MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council has joined the efforts of Poland’s Board of Selectmen to improve safety at the Five Corners intersection of Routes 26 and 11.
On Tuesday councilors signed a letter asking Maine Department of Transportation officials to reevaluate an earlier decision not to install a full traffic signal at what many locals consider a dangerous intersection.
The letter notes that Route 26 is the primary route for northbound traffic headed to the new casino, which is a couple of miles up Pigeon Hill and scheduled to open in a matter of months, and states, “we believe it is now time to seriously consider making these changes.”
“Two years ago traffic numbers were approaching the threshold for installing regular traffic lights, and now this,” Town Manager John Hawley said.
The council also learned that the total cost of moving the town library from the old brick building by the bridge to the third floor of the Municipal Building has reached $24,000.
That amount includes expenses incurred preparing space on the third floor, with new (to Mechanic Falls) shelving in the new quarters, as well as the actual cost of the move.
“The shelving came from the University of Southern Maine and saved us a ton of money. If you look close, it has a few dings, but when you consider it only cost us the $3,000 to transport it, we’re way ahead,” Hawley said.
He reported that the shelving was delivered last Thursday and that volunteers, including office staff and Public Works crew, had already shelved the books “more or less where they ought to be, thanks to careful boxing over at the library.”
Work remains to be done to get everything in order and, Hawley said, Nancy Petersons, president of the library’s Board of Trustees, was planning on an open house for Jan. 28.
The cost to relocate the library remains well within funds garnered from the sale of the old library building — on Dec. 21 the town closed with the new owners and received final proceeds in excess of $38,000.
In other business, the council directed Hawley to develop a policy of handling personal checks made out to the town and adopted a number of amendments to the town’s land use ordinance, as proposed by the Planning Board.
Councilors also heard a proposal from Corcoran Environmental Services for managing recycled materials and solid waste from the town’s transfer station. No action was taken, however, after a brief discussion, the Council agreed to consider issuing a request for proposals at its February meeting.
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