The primary spillway at the dam at Number One Pond. Photo: Wright-Pierce
By Zendelle Bouchard
Dam repairs: At its March 17 meeting, the Sanford City Council accepted a bid by Bickmore Diversified LLC of Cape Elizabeth to repair the dam at Number One Pond. While doing roadway reconstruction on River Street in 2023, a contractor encountered water rushing into the excavated roadway subgrade. The city’s Public Works Department worked with local utilities and first responders to determine that the water was coming from an abandoned gate in the abutment wall of the dam. Rapid-set concrete was used to fill the gate and stop the flow of water, but a permanent fix is needed before full reconstruction of High Street begins in June. PWD Director Matt Hill told the council that most of the water gates and aqueducts associated with the dam have been abandoned since the closing of the mills, and their functional connections have been lost to history.
New plow trucks: The council approved seven-year lease/purchase deals for two new Freightliner plow trucks. The vehicles they are replacing are too small for the job, according to Hill, but were purchased during the pandemic when heavy equipment was in short supply. Both have residual value and will be traded in. The lease-to-own arrangements include full warranty on parts and labor on major systems for seven years, which could save the city considerable money on repairs, Hill said. After the leases are paid off, the trucks could be traded in or kept for several more years.
SB Emery Court: The council voted to recognize SB Emery Court as a private road. The city has been maintaining it for several years, but research has not turned up any evidence that it was ever accepted as a public roadway, so it is ineligible to be maintained with taxpayer dollars. SB Emery Court is an unpaved road between Washington and Bodwell streets. There are two homes on it that do not have frontage on another street.
The city can no longer legally maintain SB Emery Court now that it has been recognized as a private road. Photo: City of Sanford
New message board: The council voted to accept grant funds in the amount of $29,539.71 from the William Oscar Emery Trust for replacement of the electronic message board and refurbishment of the existing City Hall monument sign located in front of City Hall. The current sign is technologically obsolete, and the replacement parts it needs would be prohibitively expensive. The new message board will have a slim, double-faced LED display.
Aerobatic box: The council approved the designation of a permanent aerobatic box at the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, which would provide an aerobatics practice area for use by the New England Aerobatic Club, which has been using our airport for this purpose since 2009. Airport Manager Allison Navia told the council that designation of the box would simplify the approval process and help facilitate aerobatic events, which bring pilots to the airport, boosting revenue. The council will be notified when events are going to take place, and the public can park by the ball field to watch the pilots in action.
New hangars: A land lease agreement with MAS Hangars LLC was approved for the airport. MAS is planning two new 8-unit aircraft hangars as well as infrastructure improvements. Navia said this is part of the Presidential Lane development and will add value to the airport’s TIF district. The company plans to apply for a credit enhancement agreement to assist with upfront development costs.
Cottage Street closure: The council approved the closure of Cottage Street for three to four weeks this summer while the sewer main that runs down the center of the road is replaced. Look for an article with more details in a future edition of the Sanford Springvale News.
The post Council Notes: Fixing an Old Dam, New Trucks and Hangars appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
