Beaver
Problem Abated (for now)
(Lamoine) — A beaver family paid the ultimate price after the town
paid a few thousand dollars in road repairs on Needles Eye Road. The persistent
creatures kept damming up water at a cross culvert just about as fast
as contractor Richard King could clear out the debris. A screen designed
to keep the water flowing worked briefly, but the animals kept plugging
that up. The screen was easier to clean than the interior of the culvert.
The town contacted the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and
a trapper was hired to remove the beavers, which was accomplished when
trapping season opened in early December. No permanent damage to the road
base occurred, and the culvert has not flooded again since the beavers
departure. Neighbors report that further upstream other beavers have created
a huge pond and devastated the forest growth in the area between Needles
Eye/Walker/Partridge Cove Road. It’s not known if the beavers will
be encouraged to vacate that area.
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Still Time To Register Dogs
(Lamoine) — State law requires that all dogs be registered with the
Town Clerk. Dog registrations expire December 31st, but there is a month
long grace period in January where no late fee is charged.
After January 31st a $15.00/dog late fee is assessed. If a warrant for licensing
is issued in April, an additional $25.00/dog fee is charged.
Lamoine residents can utilize on-line dog registrations at www.doglicensing.com.
A link to the site is on Lamoine’s web-page (www.lamoine-me.gov).
Proof of current rabies is required. The state has deemed that rabies shots
are now good for 3-years from the date of vaccination instead of two years,
unless the dog was less than 1-year old when vaccinated.
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Road Names Assigned
(Lamoine) — Three new roads have names, while a fourth waits for agreement
between a subdivision developer and the Selectmen. The Board agreed to Otter
Lane as the name for a road serving two cottages off Shore Road.
The cottages are being constructed by Steve and Patricia Leonard-Johnson
of Bar Harbor.
King’s Lane is the name of a new road leading to
subdivision lots being developed by Richard King. It’s located near
Mr. King’s business and home on Douglas Highway.
Up Back Road leads to a pair of cottages under construction
by Eric Hartman of Lamoine Beach Road, nearly across from Lamoine State
Park. No sign was erected yet due to the winter weather—it will go
in when the ground thaws.
The road serving the Marlboro Woods subdivision remains unnamed as Selectmen
seek an alternate, historical name for the road.
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State Asks for Accessible
Voting Place
(Lamoine) — Selectmen will inspect the entrance to the Town Hall to
see what changes could be easily made to accommodate handicapped voters
on Election Day. The Secretary of State’s office issued reports to
all towns on voting accessibility, asking for corrections to meet some strict
standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Lamoine was
cited for not having a marked parking area for vehicles displaying disability
plates, having a ramp that is slightly too steep, having a slight lip where
the ramp meets the pavement, and for the outside bulletin board that encroaches
into the handicapped ramp. The ramp, partially made of cement and asphalt,
does not have handrails on both sides for the entire length. There is no
curb on the lower part of the ramp, which may be the biggest danger to all
who use it.
The report came out the week before the November 4th elections, and did
not allow enough time for major changes to be made. There has never been
any complaint from voters about accessibility to the voting area.
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Town Works on Shore,
Mill & Seal Point Roads
(Lamoine) - Three roads received the bulk of the summer/fall work in 2004.
On Seal Point Road, contractor Richard King patched in several potholes
and replaced a culvert underneath the entrance to Sugarbush Drive. That
culvert had heaved and frozen several times last winter, and proper placement
and ditching should alleviate that problem.
On Shore Road, which the town plans to resurface in the summer of 2005,
a huge culvert (shown above) was replaced and the shoulders widened out
in the effort to eventually place guardrails in the area. The new culvert
is made of thick plastic and should not experience the deterioration that
damage metal culverts. Much of Shore Road was patched and graded in preparation
for next summer’s work. Jay Fowler did the work on Shore Road.
Mill Road, which was resurfaced on the western end this summer also got
a sprucing up in order to preserve the paving job. Several drainage projects
were improved or re-established along the road. A cross culvert that disappeared
over the years due to winter sand buildup was found. JR Anderson Pressure
Washing cleaned out that culvert which should greatly cut down on the water
flow on the lower end of the road. Some shoulders were cut down while others
were built up to match the grade of the road surface.
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Hazardous Waste Cleanup Succeeds
(Somesville) — Lamoine residents took advantage of free household
hazardous waste cleanup permits at an area pickup in October. The MDI League
of Towns sponsored the collection at the Somesville Fire Station. Lamoine
had 9-permits assigned, and when those were exhausted, residents who had
material were referred to neighbors who had a permit. By all accounts, the
arrangement was successful. The League of Towns hopes to sponsor another
cleanup next fall in a similar fashion. The cleanup cost the town just over
$500.
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Road Block
A huge culvert waits for installation across Shore Road in November. The
culvert replaces a 3-foot diameter metal culvert that had rotted out.
Contractor Jay Fowler & crew performed the work.
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Salt/Sand Shed Update
(Lamoine) — After rejection of a land purchase, Selectmen may look
at other options for locating a salt/sand shed in town. Currently the salt/sand
pile is on private property on Needles Eye Road for use only by the plowing
contractor. State law generally prevents location of a salt storage area
over the aquifer, but there are means to request a variance provided the
pile is covered and on an impervious base. Years ago it was envisioned the
town would build such a shed in the lot adjacent to the Transfer Station,
but the siting laws prohibiting location over the aquifer kicked in about
that time.
The town has obtained the variance form, and has set money aside for many
years to build such a facility. Having a shed could greatly reduce snow
removal costs.
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