Staff Writer
Local governments across Aroostook County are scrambling to figure out how to cover the costs of plowing more miles during the winter when the state transfers the responsibility for maintenance to the local communities. Highway budgets for several municipalities are expected to rise, some as high as 50 percent, when the towns have to pay more for maintenance throughout the winter.
“It devastates everything in a little town,” said Gerry Dow, first selectman in Perham, where the highway budget may rise about 40 percent.
While some communities already have assumed responsibility for the roadways, others will be transferred beginning next winter, according to state Department of Transportation officials. But communities have to deal with next winter in budgets now under preparation.
Robert Watson, manager of DOT’s Region 5, said that the reclassification of state roads and how they match with the federal highway designations, has been under scrutiny for a few years. In Aroostook County, the department found that the classification was too high on several roads, he said.
A total of 93 miles within the state was found to be misclassified. Of that, Watson said that approximately 60 miles were in Aroostook County. This presented a disproportionate share of state transportation funding into the County region, according to Watson.
Most of the changes involve going from being a state highway to a state-aid highway. Roads under the latter category are maintained by DOT in the summer, but the municipalities are responsible for the winter work.
Watson said that state is aware of the financial load that it puts on the towns. The state has offered to sell some equipment to the towns at a reduced cost.
In addition, the state plans to complete any required maintenance on the roads before turning them over to the towns, Watson said.
“We don’t want to turn over anything that will be an immediate burden,” said Watson.
The County DOT official said that no state lay-offs are planned as a result of the transfers.
The offers of discounted equipment and summer maintenance seems to be of little comfort to town officials who are looking at raising property tax rates to cover the costs of added highway work.
In Limestone, the highway budget is expected to rise by 50 percent. According to Donna Bernier, town manager, the community plows 24 miles each winter and will receive an additional 12. Half of the increase will come in 2008, while the other half will come the following year.
“It’s going to be devastating,” said Bernier.
The town manager anticipates having to purchase another plow truck and hire another employee. While she didn’t have specific financial estimates as yet, Bernier is sure there will be a tax increase to maintain those extra miles.
The story is the same in Woodland, where costs are expected to increase by more than 33 percent, according to Allen Huston, that town’s road commissioner. Included in that amount is the Colby Road, which is “not in the best shape right now.”
Woodland, which has 31.5 miles to plow, is scheduled to receive a truck from the state to help with the winter road and the town may have to hire another employee to cope with the added mileage.
“All in all, we’re not real happy about this situation, but there’s not too much we can do about it,” said Huston.
While Mapleton may only have 3.5 miles of new road to plow, “it’s the worst stretch of road in Aroostook County,” according to Town Manager John Edgecomb.
The town will receive a portion of the Hughes Road, a north-south highway that experiences much drifting and requires much maintenance, Edgecomb said.
‘It’s going to be a real challenge,” said the town manager. “Our reaction is probably colorful.”
The town of Mapleton, which has 60 miles to maintain, plows about 15 miles per truck in about four to five hours round trip, explained Edgecomb.
“This 3.5 miles will be the equivalent of a seven-mile trip,” he said.
The city of Presque Isle already is starting to interview candidates for another highway department job in anticipation of picking up another 10 miles of highway to plow beginning Jan. 1.
“It’s more that we can handle with what we’ve got,” said Gerry James, public works director in Presque Isle, referring to the department’s current resources.
The city has already purchased another truck for $105,000 and plans to hire another full-time employee to meet the need, James said.
Last month, the city of Caribou signed a memorandum of agreement with DOT regarding taking over a portion of the West Gate Road, which is in good shape and shouldn’t pose much of a problem, said City Manager Steve Buck.
Caribou is taking over 9.25 miles, including a nearly six-mile portion of Route 205, which is more problematic, Buck said. The two-lane highway translates into 12 lanes, which is a considerable distance to plow. In addition, Buck said that DOT need to complete “a punch list” of maintenance issues before the road is transferred.
Buck anticipates a budget increase because of the state transfers, but has no plans to increase staff or purchase more equipment.
In Fort Fairfield, where George Watson, the public works director, is responsible 100 miles of plowing, the state plans to turn over 2.73 miles to the town.
“Any time you get more roads, it’s a big deal,” Watson said.
Watson said the town may consider hiring another employee, but won’t know until later into the budgeting process.
The small town of Perham takes care of 12.5 to 13 miles of winter roads. The additional stretch of highway from the state will bring its total responsibility for plowing up to 24 miles, requiring the town to rethink its personnel levels. Traditionally, the town has two people working in the winter, one full-time and one part-time.
Dow said that the town will take the state up on its offer for equipment. Even though the piece may be used and have breakdowns, it has a trade-in value, Dow said.
The towns of Blaine and Bridgewater are scheduled to take over almost four miles of the Old Houlton and Robinson roads. However, negotiations for that transfer have only recently begun, according to Chappy Clark, town manager.
