By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN — Having attended a seminar conducted by the Maine Department of Transportation earlier in the day, New Sweden’s Road Crew Foreman Shawn Dube reported on the benefits of pre-wetting rock salt used to treat the roads at New Sweden’s Selectmen meeting held Nov. 28.
Dube and Selectman Doug Anderson both attended the seminar and found it to be quite useful. According to the information provided during the seminar, pre-wetting the salt with a mixture of water and calcium chloride and applying it to the road immediately before the storm can prevent one or two plow trips per incident, saving on salt consumption and money.
A set of tanks and sprayers to attach to the sanding trucks to apply the mixture was available for purchase from another town for a total of $200, according to Dube. The mixture can be purchased pre-mixed from the state, or the town could mix it itself. It was estimated that they would need around 300 gallons for the winter with the cost of the sodium chloride at $1.50 per gallon.
Sodium chloride is more effective in colder temperatures than salt alone. Salt loses its effectiveness when the temperature drops to 10 below zero, which is not an uncommon occurrence in this area.
It would not be possible to apply the sodium chloride to dirt roads, however, as it increases erosion and would leave the roads virtually impassable during the spring melt. Anderson estimated that New Sweden has about 14 miles of dirt roads in its 46-mile total area.
After discussion of the benefits of using the calcium chloride and the relatively low start-up cost, the selectmen unanimously approved purchasing the tanks and sprayers. The town will be making the mixture itself. Head Selectman Ray Hildebrand suggested posting the information about the use of calcium chloride at the town office for public review.
Dube continued his road report by advising that New Sweden was awarded a public works grant from the Maine Municipal Association. The amount of the grant was $221.05 and was used to purchase an eyewash station for the garage, which arrived and was installed. Dube stated he planned to apply for the grant again next year to purchase a set of safety cabinets.
After Dube’s road report was complete, the selectmen reviewed tree growth applications filed by New Sweden residents. They also discussed an increase in premium for health insurance provided to the town’s employees by the Maine Municipal Health Trust. The increase is a total of $47 per employee per month. The selectmen voted to pay the increase this year with no changes in coverage to the employees and will review the coverage again next year.
Hildebrand read a letter from the National Flood Insurance Program stating that New Sweden’s Floodplain Management Ordinance was found to be in compliance, although a few inconsistencies in verbiage were found and it was recommended that subsections be added. The selectmen decided to table amending the ordinance for further clarification.
The selectmen also discussed a letter received from a New Sweden resident with concerns about vegetation growing in a ditch at the end of their driveway, causing flooding. They agreed that action would need to be taken to correct the problem.
Staying in line with the road conditions theme of the meeting, the selectmen also agreed to begin the process of formally notifying a Rista Rd. resident that they will be required to remove a rock at the end of their driveway for safety’s sake as the placement of the rock will hinder the ability to plow the road properly.
The next New Sweden Selectmen meeting will be held on Wednesday Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the town office.
