Crosswalks and Potential Sewer Tie-Ins Cause Some Worry
Mount Desert Cheers Claire Woolfolk and Hires Kevin Stradley
MOUNT DESERT—Last week, the MDI High School Board of Trustees discussed potential funding options for a potential high school wastewater connection to the Somesville wastewater treatment facility, an estimated $10 million project.
This week, during the Mount Desert Selectboard meeting, Selectboard member Geoff Woods was worried about the MDI High School sewage problems and how they relate to the town. One of the things being considered is tying into the Somesville wastewater treatment plant.
The school had submitted applications to both U.S. Senator Angus King’s office and U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ office in an effort to receive funds through congressionally directed spending, which falls under the bailiwick of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Wood said that he didn’t object to the idea, but the town is currently trying to tighten up budget and purse strings. That system, he said, was paid for by taxpayers many years ago.
During the trustees’ meeting, School Superintendent Mike Zboray said that he recently received word from Senator King’s office that the project was removed from congressionally directed spending consideration. When asked if Senator King’s office had given him a reason why, Zboray said that it was a generic response about how competitive the program is.
Zboray said that he is now reaching out to Senator King’s office to set up a meeting regarding other funding options and mechanisms. Zboray said that Senator Collins’ office never responded. Senator Collins is vice-chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Wood said he was concerned that the application was put into the federal government without the board expressly knowing about it.
“I just don’t know what the answer is to that,” he said. “That was troubling to me.”
Public Works Director Brian Henkel said that the sewer line request for congressional money was through the MDI High School and the administrators. The ask was not yet an official grant request, he believes, though he’s not completely familiar with the process for congressional allocations.
Wood said he’d like a little more sunlight in the process and would have preferred more discussion before the school system sent out a feeler to the congressional delegation.
The board members asked for more frequent updates from the MDI High School Board of Trustees.
CROSSWALKS IN SOMESVILLE
Wood also wanted to know about the crosswalks on the Somesville Road, which had not been repainted when the Maine DOT did work on the road.
Henkel said that according to the Maine DOT, crosswalks have to connect to sidewalks and there are no sidewalks to connect to there.
“People don’t stop there. You can’t get across the road,” Wood said. There needs to be a sidewalk or way to slow motor vehicles down, he said.
“It’s a significant hazard,” Wood said. “I don’t know how many hundreds of people cross the road right there every week.”
Selectboard member Martha Dudman said that at the time of the past work, the DOT said the hill was dangerous and that the crosswalk gave people a false sense of security that they could cross and be safe.
”And they couldn’t,” she said. “I know it’s an enormous inconvenience, but it’s dangerous to have a crosswalk there.”
Wood said that if there is no crosswalk, there needs to be a way to safely get to a crosswalk. This would require a sidewalk.
“We’re stuck. You can’t walk on the side of the road because it’s too narrow and you can’t cross the street,” he said.
KEVIN STRADLEY APPOINTED AND CLAIRE WOOLFOLK RECEIVES LIFETIME CERTIFICATE
Board members appointed Kevin Stradley to the position of MEO I/Refuse, beginning September 9, 2024 at the regular rate of $29.83 plus accumulated longevity.
In May, Stradley had been appointed as a part-time, seasonal employee in the Waste Management Division at an hourly rate of $25.00 per hour effective June 10, 2024. In 2009, Stradley was recognized as Mount Desert’s firefighter of the year.
The Selectboard also accepted Maine Town and City Clerks’ Association award of lifetime certification to Town Clerk Claire Woolfolk.
There was a round of cheers for Woolfolk who began at the Mount Desert town office in 2010 as assistant town clerk. She became the town clerk, five years later.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Dudman moved to revive a holiday luncheon tradition for all of those who work for the town. She suggested using the Nor’Easter Restaurant and using the budget from the Selectboard’s account.
1112 MAIN STREET SETTLEMENT
The town officially signed the release and settlement agreement between the town and 1112 Main Street, LLC, which had suffered damage during a storm, characterized as an extreme weather event, and the town’s sanitary sewer pump station was overwhelmed.
As a result, highly diluted sewage backed into the gallery. The town agreed to cover damages of $27,018.46.
The agreement is detailed in an August 15 letter from Public Works Director Brian Henkel. It was approved to be signed.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board approved a wedding on October 12, 2024, in Suminsby Park and a liquor license renewal for Milk and Honey.
The board authorized the fire chief to sell the 2011 Ford F- 350 4WD Super Duty pick-up to Hugh Reynolds for $6,500.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
A Mount Desert 365 piece involving Claire Woolfolk
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