TURNER — Selectmen Monday night reviewed the deed for land that will be gifted to the town from Dale Talbot.
The land is a small lot between Turner’s old Town House and the Natural History Club, which is located at 442 Turner Center Road (Route 117). Town voters gave their approval to accept the parcel as a gift during May’s Town Meeting.
In a related matter, the deed to the Natural History Club property will be provided to the town when it has been prepared for transfer, which should be soon, according to Town Manager Kurt Schaub.
Voters decided in June to accept the club’s land and building. The building, which sits on 1.6 acres and is said to be more than 100 years old, has been vacant since the club dissolved in 2017.
The club dates back to the 1920 and was a repository of tens of thousands of seashells, and animal and plant specimens, among other items. The collection was moved to the Maine State Museum earlier this year.
In other business, the board also voted in favor of sending a letter of support to Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt. The board has been in talks with Bernhardt about several Route 4 intersection improvement projects, and the letter was to confirm that they like the direction the projects are going in.
Town Manager Kurt Schaub said the goal is to improve safety at intersections for routes 4 and 117, and routes 4 and 219.
Also Monday, the board discussed recent complaints of a bad smell in part of Turner. Code Enforcement Officer Bob Boutin determined it was from the New England Fish Co.’s cleanup site on Route 4.
A letter from the company signed by John Paul Bilodeau said the warehouse cooling system recently malfunctioned, but has been fixed.
“There’s an issue, it still stinks,” board Chairman Kurt Youland said. “It needs to be dealt with.”
The board decided to have Boutin go back to the warehouse and see if the problems are being dealt with.
The board also approved changing the speed limit on Blake Road from 45 mph to 30 mph.
The board previously asked Tim Soucie from the Maine DOT to do a speed study on the road. Soucie recommended 25 mph and the board countered with 35 mph. Soucie said he could do 30 mph, which the board agreed to.
Schaub also said paving on Mountainside Drive and Field Lane is complete, and the Turner side of East Hebron Road will be paved next week.
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