Mexico voters approve road bond, sale of former SAD 43 central office

MEXICO — Residents approved borrowing up to $2.9 million for the renovation, repair or reconstruction of town-maintained roads by a 605-485 vote Tuesday. They also overwhelmingly approved authorizing selectmen to sell the former SAD 43 central office building by a vote of 966-132.

"People realized that it is their responsibility to take care of their roads and the infrastructure. People have consistently supported what selectmen have proposed," Town Manager John Madigan said Tuesday night. "This shows that the majority of voters want to reinvest in the future of the town."

The $2.9 million bond issue would reconstruct, pave, or in some way repair about a dozen town-maintained roads, many of which have been neglected over the years because of a lack of municipal funds.

The former SAD 43 central office building, located next to the Mexico Recreation Center, was accepted by residents at the June town meeting. The former school district left it because it merged with SAD 21 in Dixfield and SAD 39 in Buckfield to form the Western Foothills School District, also called Regional School Unit 10, on July 1. The new central office is in Dixfield.

Madigan said selectmen will discuss the best method for selling the two-story c.1960 building at their regular board meeting Wednesday night.

The board will also begin plans to start construction in the spring on one or more of the proposed projects at Wednesday's meeting.

Madigan said engineering work will likely begin during the winter months, then bids will go out before construction begins.

Town officials have identified about a dozen roads that need major or relatively major work. Madigan said the bond will allow the necessary work on those roads, although more also need repair.

He said the entire amount will not be borrowed all at once, but rather as needed for each project. The 12 roads marked for improvement are: Fourth Street, South Main Street, Oxford Street, Alder Street, two sections of Granite Street, a section of Bucknum Street, Colby Street, Mexico Avenue, Mount Street, Dalton Street, the remainder of Swett Avenue, and three sections of Backkingdom Road.

eadams@sunjournal.com