LEWISTON – Councilors paved the way for a Bates Mill exit over the next few months, agreeing to let City Administrator Jim Bennett sign a contract with developers Bates Mill LLC.

Bennett said he expects to sign the contract with the business’ principal, Tom Platz, and his partners, after city attorneys have given the agreement one last look.

“Then, we’ll take a little time on both sides to work everything out,” Bennett said “I expect to close in about 90 days.”

Bennett said there have been few changes made to the deal since councilors last discussed it on Nov. 25.

“Mostly, it’s been word-smithing between our lawyers and their lawyers,” Bennett said. “They’ve finally gotten to the point where the words say what we told you they said, and both sides agree about what they say.”

Lewiston:

Sidewalk clearing crews fall behind

LEWISTON – Snow crews are behind schedule in clearing city sidewalks following this month’s heavy snow falls.

Public Works Director Dave Jones said his crews and those from the recreation department are working to clear some sidewalks as quickly as possible.

“But some of them are buried under so much snow, the little sidewalk machines can’t do it,” Jones said. “Those are going to have to wait until we can go in and haul the snow out.”

The problem is the amount of snow that has fallen so far. The city averages about 70 inches of snow each winter. The last two storms have already dumped about 30 inches.

“We’ve used up almost half of our budget, and it’s not even Christmas yet,” Jones said.

Lewiston:

Changes made

in Wal-Mart plan

LEWISTON – Wal-Mart’s grocery warehouse will be slightly taller and farther back from River Road and Plourde Parkway than planned.

Work on the retailer’s distribution center is to begin in April. “We’re getting closer to it, and the plans are getting more concrete,” said Deputy Development Director David Hediger.

Plans include adding another 6 feet on top of the warehouse, but reducing the building’s footprint by about 43 feet along the southern side. Original plans set the building height at 100 feet, and the size at 485,000 square feet.

“The end result is that the building is moving farther away from the intersection of River Road and Plourde Parkway,” Hediger said. “It’s a little change and shouldn’t have much impact.”

Hediger said the designs of machinery to be housed in the warehouse made the shape change needed. The building will be a huge grocery and produce transfer facility, full of conveyor belts and storage areas.

“Originally, they were planning to build a shell and then put the mechanics inside,” Hediger said. “Now, they’re planning on building the actual conveyors and mechanics into the building. To do that, they needed more room on top.”

Lisbon:

Selectmen seek to extend contract

LISBON – Selectmen have authorized Town Manager Curtis Lunt to begin negotiations for a new, longer contract with Earthtech Inc., the firm that operates the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Their decision came after a performance review Tuesday night indicating “significant improvement” in the first six months of a one-year contract that began July 1.

Minot:

Lack of water closes school

A crisis at the Minot Consolidated School gave students and teachers an early start on their holiday vacation.

A failed well prompted school officials to cancel school due to lack of water. No water means no school lunches and no use of bathrooms for the approximately 300 kindergarten through eighth-grade students. It also may mean between $5,000 and $20,000 in unbudgeted expenditures to resolve the problem, said school Principal Don Bilodeau.

“This has really created a crisis for the school,” said Bilodeau.

The school’s 50-year-old well is 220 feet deep and normally pumps 20 gallons per minute.

The problem was originally thought to be a failed pump caused by a power surge during high winds and heavy rains and snow. However, the problem has become more complicated and will probably mean putting in a new well, said Union 29 Assistant Superintendent Bill Doughty.

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