Dogs, Goat Seized, Cruelty Summons Issued

(Lamoine) — Animal Control Officer Harry Lounder issued a summons to a Francis Drive homeowner after neighbors complained that a couple of dogs appeared to have been abandoned. Lounder obtained a search warrant after observing that the dogs were pawing through snow and eating garbage left on the property that the landowner had left for the winter. Inside a mobile home with apparently no food or water was a goat.

Lounder took the unlicensed dogs to the Small Animal Clinic which serves as Lamoine's shelter. The goat was another matter. Town officials contacted Troy Tainter of Ellsworth who owns goats, and he graciously took this one in.

Lounder reports the animal owner claimed to be coming to the property periodically to feed the animals, and was looking to get rid of the goat anyway. The dogs were licensed and released from the shelter to the owner. A May 3rd court date awaits.

Got Your Goat?

This little pygmy goat was quite glad to get some fresh hay after ACO Harry Lounder relocated it from a Francis Drive home.

Fix Route 184 Letters Flood MDOT Office

(Lamoine) — It looks like a widespread letter writing campaign started by the Board of Selectmen might have done some good. The horrid conditions on State Route 184 from Route 1 to the Town Hall and from Latona Lane to Lamoine Beach have gotten noticed in Augusta . MDOT Commissioner David Cole, the recipient of the letters, was in Lamoine on Saturday, March 26th to take a look at the road first hand. Cole lives in Bangor , and stopped by the Town Office to tell Clerk Jennifer Kovacs he was looking things over.

The Selectmen and many other letter writers received the same response after writing to Cole—that the MDOT planned to pave those sections of road during the summer of 2005. Many found that short-term solution unacceptable as the paving jobs in the past few years have not solved the severe frost heaves, dips, and potholes that occur in the winter and leave the road a treacherous drive, even after the spring thaw. Commissioner Cole did not indicated that any longer term solution was in the immediate future during his trip to Lamoine.

The Selectmen responded to the letter, expressing concern that the MDOT was planning to pave the proper road after the Commissioner indicated paving would start at Route 204 and end at Route 1 in Hancock. Route 184 ends in Ellsworth.

State Representative Earl Bierman said he has also been in touch with the MDOT about the sad shape of the highway, and had some assurance that officials from the state agency would take a closer look at the road that is designated as a Collector Road . Bierman said he hopes to keep informing MDOT about the problems. Resident George Orzel and many others provided the Selectmen with a copy of his letter to MDOT complete with pictures of broken pavement, heaves, cracks and holes.

A Patch Job For Now

An MDOT Crew Prepares to Patch Rte 184

Lamoine's First New Truck Gets New Tank

(Lamoine) - Time and road salt were not kind to Lamoine's Engine 402. The 1976 Ford's gas tank had holes in it, and was leaking gasoline when filled too full. Welder Harrison Pinkham and Chief Engineer Mo Oliver worked together to build a new gas tank which was installed successfully in March. The truck also is getting much needed work on its emergency brakes, vital during pumping operations.

So That's What A Gas Tank Looks Like

The new gas tank sits in the back of a pickup truck just before installation.

Ambulance Contract Renewal To Be Aired

(Lamoine) — For decades the Town has signed contracts with County Ambulance in return for the private company guaranteeing it will provide adequate staff to respond to calls in town. The City of Ellsworth stopped signing such a contract a few years ago, and now residents and Selectmen are questioning whether the town should continue with its contract. The matter came up at a Selectmen's meeting in January with company owner John Partridge explaining what the contract money provided to Lamoine. It also came up at the town meeting in March, and Dan Bahr of County Ambulance attempted to answer audience questions.

The Selectmen will discuss the matter in May with Mr. Partridge. The town meeting kept the funding in the budget with the direction given that the Selectmen could decide whether to renew the contract. The price for 2005/06 is $8,970, or $6/person.

Trash Transporter To Refund Overcharges

(Lamoine) — Selectmen accepted a settlement of about $1,800 from Pine Tree Waste after the company said it mistakenly included commercial trash picked up in Lamoine with the transfer station trash dumped at the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC) facility in Orrington. By contract the two are supposed to be accounted for separately, and the commercial accounts are billed by Pine Tree for the tipping fee at PERC.

General Manager Bill DeRoss met with Selectmen in January to explain the problem and Selectmen accepted his calculations on how much was mistakenly charged to the town. The town awaits a check from the company.

State, Town May Fix Section Of Route 204

(Lamoine) — That huge frost heave on Route 204 ( Partridge Cove Road ) just to the east of Raccoon Cove Road may be a thing of the past soon. So might the icing problem near the intersection with Needles Eye Road .

Selectmen have asked to jointly fund a project to repair that section of Route 204 with the Maine Department of Transportation which is responsible for the road. The funding plan is the same one that fixed the intersection of Pinkhams' Flats and Douglas Highway in 2003.

The MDOT has put $30,000 in the budget for the project which it will engineer with input from the town as to what and where needs fixing. The project is expected to be included in the two year road plan the MDOT publishes.

Snowstorm, Christmas Close Transfer Station

(Lamoine) - Predicted heavy snow (which fizzled out) closed Lamoine's transfer station on March 12th. Extremely heavy trash collection on December 31st also caused a closure after dumpsters filled quickly. Selectmen and Station Manager Allen Sternfield discussed closing policies after the Christmas Trash incident. The town is trying to construct a sign for the gate to indicate emergency closures and reopening times. Town officials put notices on commercial TV stations in March, the local government channel, the e-mail system and website indicating the closure. Few complaints came in.