By M.J. STAFFORD

mstafford@observertoday.com

Pomfret’s town board voted this month to accept a bid of $86,280 for construction of a new salt barn.

The town is paying for the barn with a $40,000 grant from the state, and bonding for the remaining $46,280.

SteelMaster Building Systems, a Virginia-based company, won the bid. Highway Department Superintendent Jude Gardner said he is very happy a new salt barn is coming, as the current one is in poor shape.

It’s unclear when the barn will actually get built, however. When Town Attorney Jeffrey Passafaro asked a question about paying for it, town officials told him the town was probably months away from having to do that.

Town Supervisor Dan Pacos pointed out that “Jude’s dudes,” as he put it — aka Highway Department workers — could construct the concrete foundation themselves, before building materials arrive on site.