First phase of Safe Streets project closed out

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    MILO — Last year significant work was done by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to fix up the downtown travel ways in Milo under the Safe Streets project. The first phase of the project has been nearly closed out, with the final bill paid after a special town meeting vote on March 18.
    In order to pay the balance, a figure of nearly $1,200 needed to be raised and appropriated from surplus. “The bottom line is if you do this you pay the final bill and we have made a profit,” Town Manager David Maynard said.

    He explained that the town will end up with a profit of just over $2,250 after using the near $1,200 from surplus. Maynard said in February the MDOT made a $3,450 payment to Milo to cover work on High Street outside of the project boundary. This cost was the town’s expense outside of the Safe Streets project that was paid by the MDOT, on the assumption that there were adequate funds to make the final reimbursement payment. As a result of the payment made, there was a shortfall of nearly $1,198 in funds available, but by raising this amount the town would end up $2,250 in the black.
    The March 18 meeting included a public hearing on fireworks ordinances, specifying both use and sales regulations for the town. “Due to ongoing issues in the community regarding the use of fireworks, the board has asked that ordinances be prepared,” Maynard said.
    “Generally speaking fireworks are restricted in the town of Milo, that restriction is in the built-up area,” he said about the presented ordinance draft which defines sections of the community similarly to the animal ordinance. “Outside the built-up area fireworks are allowed July 4, Dec. 31 and the weekend before and after” with timeframes of 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The ordinance also requires those using fireworks to have a cell phone on hand. the ability to be able to extinguish hot debris or flare-ups and they must clean up any mess.
    He said the fireworks sales ordinance has a permit fee, $500 initially in the current draft and $250 for ensuing years, for vendors that is similar to those selling alcohol with a liquor license. Fireworks sellers have other guidelines, such as needing to have what is essentially a secure bunker to store their product in.
    “The board will take into account all the things being said, when you are at the stage of a public hearing an ordinance is still a work in progress,” Maynard said.
    Concerns raised included the loss of rights for a resident to utilize their own property as they see fit, vs. other property owners not having to listen to the  noise around the clock and the threat of damage from wayward fireworks.
    Later in the evening the selectmen voted to table a motion on the fireworks ordinances. A work session, including members of the police and fire departments, was scheduled for March 27 to refine the pair of ordinances.
    Select Chair Lee McMannus said town officials are aiming “to make these as effective as possible the first time and not have to keep going through” the ordinances.
    The board did vote to enact a PACE (property assessed clean energy) ordinance which can allow for residents to apply for energy-saving programs through Efficiency Maine, such as loans for heat pumps.
    “This is a community where it is tough for the average person to pay their property taxes,” Maynard said, as over 170 other Maine communities have PACE ordinances on the books. “This program allows us to help our residents.”
    In other business Police Chief Damien Pickel reported the department received a portable light tower from the Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency. He said the 10-foot inflatable tower can illuminate up to three acres and will be placed on the fire rescue truck for transport to calls.
    “We had a couple of boat rescues last year where it could have been used,” Pickel said, saying emergency responders went out to the scene of the calls at night.
    The selectmen also scheduled a public hearing on a proposed posted road ordinance as part of the next meeting on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall.