RUMFORD — Selectmen will revisit a couple of Public Works project proposals at their meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 5, in Rumford Falls Auditorium.
The first, under old business, is Superintendent Andy Russell’s attempt to seek bids to reline a sewer main with cure-in-place fiberglass resin rather than try to dig up the old pipes in East Rumford.
At the board’s April 17 meeting, Russell said he’d like to reline the sewer line in East Rumford that goes from Sunnyside Terrace to Royal Avenue.
He said they received a bid last year of just under $170,000 to reline 5,000 feet of pipe. Putting that into perspective, he said that last year when they had the problem with the Prospect Avenue sewer line, they spent close to $340,000 on 100 feet of pipe, because it was in an aquifer and jeopardized the safety of crews, requiring additional safety measures.
Russell said East Rumford’s nearly mile-long sewer line consists of asbestos cement pipe. He said that if they reline the pipe with cure-in-place fiberglass resin it wouldn’t have any joints at all except at manholes and it would last 50 years or so. The sewer main is so old that it could fail at any time, he said.
Selectmen at Thursday night’s meeting will also discuss the department’s sidewalk restoration project for Rumford’s downtown area with local economic development group Envision Rumford.
Other new business includes requests from Richard Philbrick to use Veterans Park for a Flag Day ceremony and from the Elks Club for a permit for a Flag Day parade.
Motorcycle enthusiast Nick Brown of Mexico wants to hold a Rumford Bike Show event outside Hotel Rumford from 5 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 8 and is seeking permission from selectmen to close Canal Street.
In a May 30 email to selectmen, Brown said he has spoken with several motorcycle groups in the River Valley area, such as United Bikers of Maine, The Legion Riders, The Eagle Riders and The Twisted Gypsies. He said he’s also invited some of the local custom motorcycle shop owners and bike builders to display their bikes at the show. Shops include Grid Iron in Mexico, Norseman in Bethel and Low Fat Custom of Turner.
“They have shown support for this event, which we hope will be a good turnout for our first endeavor,” Brown said.
He said that as the motorcycles arrive, they will be parked two per parking space along Canal Street, keeping the travel lane open for emergency vehicles.
Selectmen also will be asked to approve the gravel and winter sand bid, appoint tax collector Thomas Bourret as Rumford’s motor vehicle municipal agent and approve a nomination for the Maine Municipal Association’s Executive Committee.
Bourret said Rumford’s already been collecting excise taxes on motor vehicles, so his appointment is just a formality.
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