By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — There’s a new culvert policy for the town of Limestone now that the Selectpeople officially signed of on it during their Dec. 5 meeting.
In short, the new policy states that owners of newly-built homes will have to furnish the cost off the physical culvert and the town will install it for them.
During her Town Manager’s report, Donna Bernier described another culvert-related matter for the town, regarding the MDOT culvert project on the Ward Road.
Originally, MDOT was slated to foot $27,480 toward the culvert project according to Bernier; as of recent, MDOT has offered only $13,00 for the project.
In 2010, MDOT turned the Ward, Bog and Cote roads to the town with the intent of fixing up the pavement after the transfer. Two years later, Bernier explained that now MDOT wants to give Limestone $7,000 to conclude their post-transfer obligation — but $7,000 won’t cover the cost of all repairs needed.
Because of the assistance the town received for some road repairs and the donation of some equipment to the highway department, Bernier explained that the town may have to settle for the $7,000.
The Selectpeople also barely approved putting the old ladder truck out to bid for the Volunteer Fire Department; Limestone shares the truck with Fort Fairfield.
In a vote of 3-2, the selectpeople approved putting the truck out to bid with a minimum bid of $4,000; bids are due on Dec. 19. Selectpeople Gary O’Neal and Jesse Philbrick opposed the motion to put the truck out to bid.
The selectpeople had little to say during their Elected Officials’ reports; Selectperson Chair Thomas Devoe requested that the town send a letter of congratulations to Executive Director of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, Luke Shorty, as he was recently selected to join the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools in Math, Science and Technologies national board.
Both selectpeople Thomas Albert and Marilyn King raved about the “Right to Know” seminar they attended in Houlton — citing the event as tremendously informative and a pretty good time, as well.
Albert also stated that as he will not be able to attend the next meeting of the Limestone Selectpeople at 6:30 on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Limestone Municipal Building, he wished everyone an early Merry Christmas.
