Madawaska to vote on street projects Overhaul of sewer, water lines part of $975,000 reconstruction

MADAWASKA – Residents on Monday night will face two questions totaling nearly $1 million for the reconstruction of three streets, projects that could begin next year.

The meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 will be held in the Madawaska High School cafeteria. If the projects are approved, residents of 12th and 14th avenues and Acadia Street could have major reconstruction to sewer and water line infrastructure.

The $975,000 project hinges on residents approving borrowing up to $500,000, submitting an application for an infrastructure grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the approving the grant request.

The town is seeking $500,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program, the maximum allowed from the program.

The Madawaska Board of Selectmen approved the application recently. Residents must approve the application before it can be submitted.

“These streets are very rough, almost not walkable in places,” Town Manager Fred Ventresco said recently. “The town has been waiting to repair them.

“It will be expensive because it involves a lot of sewer and water infrastructure that needs to be upgraded,” he said. “The town has just been patching the streets, waiting for a project grant.”

Alone, the town cannot afford to do the project. It has been repairing potholes, but underground work is too expensive to do on its own.

An estimate to do the work a couple of years ago came in at $860,000. Since then, the cost has risen. Engineers estimate the price tag for the special town meeting and application puts the cost at $975,000.

Ventresco said he has talked with the Maine Department of Economic Development, and it may be time to seek a Community Development Block Grant.

The town was denied one a year ago.

A public hearing on the project was held Nov. 22. If the state requests a final application, its deadline will be in February 2006.

If the borrowing is approved, the town wants to repay the $500,000 over five years. Repayment will include an estimated $90,000 for interest for a total repayment of $590,000, about $118,000 a year.

The town already has outstanding bonds to repay. Those include $3,106,670 still owed on construction of the elementary school; $2,579,771 on reconstruction of the water pollution plant; a short-term tax anticipation note of $3.5 million to be paid within the tax year; a short-term note of $68,750 for recreation; and a short-term note of $137,500 for paving.

The town also has the repayment of a lease purchase of $46,238.

Ventresco said the town has approached Rep. Michael Michaud for assistance from Washington, D.C.

“That’s a long shot,” Ventresco said.