Survey to seek line between 2 County towns

MADAWASKA – A culvert washed out by a severe storm a few weeks ago has raised questions about the location of the line between Madawaska and Frenchville.

Selectmen from the two St. John Valley towns are looking at the cost of surveying the entire town line between the two communities.

Dale Beaulieu, a resident of Eleventh Avenue, raised the issue after his culvert washed out after the heavy rainstorm. The street starts at Madawaska’s Main Street, but enters the town of Frenchville a few miles south of U.S. Route 1.

The town line in question is the western boundary of Frenchville and the eastern side of Madawaska.

Both town managers, Philip Levesque of Frenchville and Fred Ventresco of Madawaska, believe the line has never been surveyed. Levesque, who has been town manager for more than two decades, doesn’t remember the problem coming up before.

After the washout of his culvert, Beaulieu called Madawaska Public Works foreman Yves Lizotte, who then went to the site.

“The driveway is about 50 feet away from the town line sign,” Lizotte said. “I considered it a Frenchville problem and told the landowner.”

Madawaska selectmen have discussed the problem twice. The latest effort was 10 days ago. Both towns have agreed to share surveying costs, and estimated costs have been requested.

“There’s never been an exact survey, so there is no exact line,” Levesque said Monday. “The landowner has land in both towns.

“It may end up to be a matter of splitting the difference, when we get a report,” he said. “Anyway, the matter should be addressed.”

The problem may also be a concern on at least two other roads the two towns share. Levesque said it may be the same along Pelletier Road and Star Barn Road.

While the problem may have been there for years, new homes are being built on the roads in question and services will need to be addressed.

A look at state Department of Transportation maps didn’t help. It seems that town and property lines on those maps are estimated, at best.

“The landowner claims he has been paying taxes to Madawaska,” Ventresco said. “He is on our tax rolls.

“The question is where is the homeowner’s house in relation to the town line,” Ventresco said. More than one building is on the land, “and they may very well be in different towns. We need a professional opinion,” he said.

Ventresco hopes to have surveying estimates for the Sept. 6 Town Council meeting.