Road work presently and possibly in the future for Milo

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    MILO — As work continues on the Route 11 project to repave the travelway from the West Main Street bridge to the Brownville town line, similar construction could be a possibility in the future as the selectmen discussed several items with Public Works Supervisor Glenn Ricker during a Sept. 2 meeting.

    “We have changed out a number of culverts, they pop up due to frost,” Ricker said about some work done over the last few months in response to residents’ expressed concerns. “We put a new catch basin in behind Elaine’s, we put a new cross pipe in and took out the old one.”
    Ricker said another pipe was lowered near the medical building at the edge of the Eastern Piscataquis Business Park on Route 11. He said this work done by the town crew was finished before the surface paving.
    When asked, Ricker said when the budget process starts in the upcoming few months for the next fiscal year there will be new equipment included in the preliminary request for public works. Select Chair Lee McMannus said funds for both equipment and paving has ended up being cut from the budget for a number of years — dating back to his time serving on the budget committee — but soon these monies may need to be included in the financial plans.
    “If we want economic development in town we will need to fix the roads,” McMannus said. He said expenses for paving and the necessary equipment may need to go out to a bond in order to be funded.
    “$3 (million) to $5 million to do it and do it right,” McMannus mentioned as a ballpark figure to make the all the needed improvements to the roads throughout Milo.
    In other business, the selectmen had a discussion on the school system. During a meeting about two months prior, Selectman Bob Ade talked about a meeting he had with Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey to look at one potential future educational option for students in Milo and its fellow SAD 41 member communities.
    Ade, who has five children either in the school system or who will be entering, said he wanted to be open and transparent by telling his fellow board members about the meeting. He said he discussed with Shorey the concept of Foxcroft Academy serving as the secondary education provider for SAD 41, and this could lead to a greater number of classes and programs and extra curricular offerings at a potentially lower cost than the present per-pupil expenses.
    Selectman Jerry Brown said that in the weeks since Ade, who was not present on Sept. 2, has been verbally attacked by some with the comments directed at him personally rather just at his idea. “All it is now is talk,” Brown said, saying Ade is willing to serve his town as a selectman and everyone should feel comfortable bringing an idea forward.
    “Just the fact he brings it up gives us something to talk about,” Brown said. “Maybe we will never do that but people need to realize maybe we can do things differently.”
    McMannus said he has been going to the SAD 41 school board meetings to help improve communication between the two boards. “All the select boards need to work more closely with the school board just to have common goals,” he said. “I think we all want the same thing.”
    Saying SAD 41 officials do have a difficult task in being required to fund many programs in accordance with federal and state mandates, McMannus said, “More townspeople need to go to the school board meetings.”
    During the talks on the school system, Police Chief Damien Pickel said he has talked with Penquis Valley administrators about a student after-school program “to give them something to do and to give them some place to go.” Pickel said the sessions could involve guest speakers discussing motor vehicle maintenance and hunter safety and/or mentoring from members of the community.