Voters support state bonds, decide local issues

Voter turnout was relatively light June 12, with only a handful of local issues being determined, in addition to two bond issues – one for highways and other transportation improvements totaling just under $113 million, the other asking to borrow $18.3 million to be used for drinking water programs and wastewater treatment facilities.
     Question 1 asked voters to support a bond issue for $112,975,000 that would go to improve highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities to include port and harbor structures, as well as bicycle and pedestrian trails. By supporting Question 1, voters made the state eligible for over $260.5 million in federal and other matching funds, according to Maine’s Department of Corporations, Elections and Commissions.
The DCEC indicated voters favorimg Question 2 – a bond issue to support drinking water programs and support the construction of wastewater treatment facilities – provided leverage (for the state) to the tune of $49.5 million in other funds.
Both bonds passed statewide, with over 75 percent (3,240 to 1,059) of Aroostook County residents voting in favor of the transportation bond, while nearly 70 percent (2,995 to 1,289) supported the water bond.
In local issues, voters made the following decisions:
• Bridgewater residents elected Daniel Wayne Bradbury to fill a vacancy left on the Bridgewater Board of Selectmen, following the recent death of Edgar Wheeler. Bradbury received 47 votes, while candidate H.M. Cates Finemore II received 14, Dottie Wheeler (Edgar’s widow) received 25 and Max Parks acquired 35 votes;
• Eagle Lake voters supported Amy Ricciardi in her bid for a three-year term to the Eagle Lake Board of Selectman. Ricciardi beat out Daniel Surrells by a vote of 90- 52. The vacancy occurred when incumbent Robert Parent chose not to run again;
• Mars Hill will be getting a new plow truck, following voter support for the town to spend $157,000 to acquire the new equipment. The new truck and related plowing apparatus will take the place of a 1988 truck – the oldest in the Highway Department’s fleet of three currently used to service roads in the winter. Voter approval is required whenever the town seeks to spend more than $75,000 for capital equipment. By an 85-11 vote, residents made the decision to spend the money for the specified equipment; and
• Washburn residents favored the town getting a new water and sewer district, following the June 12 referendum vote. In a 93-19 decision, voters authorized town officials to replace the town’s water and sewer department with a water and sewer district. The change provides for a different organizational structure and collection procedures. No money is expected to be spent by the town in connection with the switch. The change now enables the quasi-municipal district to obtain more funding as a joint entity. The Town Council will oversee the newly-created district until a board of trustees can be established – a process the town has up to three years to accomplish.