Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – During its Monday night session, City Council approved submission of comments on the proposed bypass to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reiterating the Council’s March decision supporting option 2x modified – now referred to as option 7 – as the preferred route. In addition, Council requested, on behalf of concerned citizens, that the Corps consider holding a public hearing to allow for additional citizen input on the matter. Bypass discussion began during the Citizen Comment portion of the meeting. Citizens expressed concern that, over the course of meetings held in the past to talk about possible options for construction, public comment was extremely limited.
“There’ve only been six meetings in a four-year period. Presque Isle only had one member present, Norm Johnson, at the PAC meeting,” said Steve Sutter, a Presque Isle resident.
Sutter said at first he thought perhaps the public would have some influence on the system but after the meetings felt that “couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Past meetings had been put on by the Maine Department of Transportation, with little or no opportunity for citizen comments to be heard or addressed, according to Sutter. Now that the Army Corps is more involved, Sutter indicated the organization might be more willing to listen.
“Some believe the Army Corps of Engineers isn’t interested in people concerns, just wetlands. That can’t be further from the truth. They have oversight over EPA. When this project doesn’t have a problem related to capacity, congestion or safety,” Sutter said they’ll still listen.
Sutter noted that since the Council’s March decision to support a particular route, issues have developed that might change the entire plan.
“The state says Presque Isle has to develop a source water protection zone. I now note all four of the alignments would have to cross over it. That’s significant and will be of interest to ACE, as well as to McCain Foods and citizens. They (McCain and citizens) need potable water and should be concerned about detrimental effects in that zone,” said Sutter, noting that the Aroostook River between Presque Isle and Caribou was pending a classification change from C to B.
Sutter concluded by requesting the Council either not send the resolve supporting their March vote or, “better yet, send a resolve to ACE that you’d like to see a public hearing.”
Pam Sweetser, another resident whose family farm will be affected by the proposed bypass, was next to speak.
“I’m here to address the ACE public notice that has this window of opportunity to send comments. Item 2 on the notice says this project remains in the planning stage. The City Council’s charge, as a municipal body, should be to include, not exclude, the public from the process. By assuming we’ve had enough time for public input, you could be construed as restricting public interest. The Council should be opening doors to the public, not closing,” said Sweetser.
“Please consider your duty to keep us all in the process, not shut us out,” concluded Sweetser.
Dan Stewart, whose farm would be directly affected by a bypass, said he couldn’t understand why “they want to build more roads, instead of upgrading Route 1.” He also questioned why one of the options – the no-build option – had not been given more consideration as well.
Council returned to the topic later in the meeting, during the manager’s report by City Manager Tom Stevens.
Stevens noted that up until the night of Council’s decision in March, there had been opportunities along the way for public comment.
“If others would like to request a public hearing, they could do so,” said Stevens.
Councilor Ron McPherson disagreed with Stevens.
“In my own mind this is probably the most crucial of all. The biggest mistake I made in all this – we never pursued the no-build. I think we should schedule a meeting with ACE and give citizens affected (a chance to have their say),” said McPherson.
Councilors discussed the possibility of requesting a public hearing and how that action might be perceived. It was agreed that making such a request would not have an effect on their March vote, but would merely aid citizens in arranging a possible public hearing with ACE officials. Council members determined that, as representatives of the citizens, it was their duty to request such a hearing as soon as possible, due to the approaching ACE deadline.
A recent release from the MDOT seeking a Corps permit to place fill to construct a bypass in Presque Isle requested public comments be forwarded no later than Oct. 23, to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Jay Clement), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, ME 04351. Comments could also be sent by e-mail to jay.1.clement@usace.army.mil. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Jay Clement at 623-8367.
Both Sutter and Sweetser indicated attempts had been made to set up a public hearing but neither had received a response with regard to such taking place. They hoped the Council’s request would carry more weight with officials in charge of bypass talks.
Councilor G. Melvin Hovey said he didn’t think the Council should request a public hearing on behalf of the Council but recommended instead suggesting ACE have a public hearing to hear citizen comments.
“That’s what I’m trying (to say). We’re the elected body here in the community. By asking for a public hearing, it changes none of our aspirations as a Council. It just supports citizens in having their last hoorah – allows people to have their say,” said McPherson.
“All we want is that you request a public hearing. Your voice is stronger than ours,” said Sweetser.
Council voted unanimously to say the city was ok with Council’s March position, with Council requesting on behalf of landowners and public parties that a public hearing be scheduled to discuss additional concerns about the bypass with ACE officials.