CANTON – At Monday night’s public hearing, residents learned the town needs another 46 homes to be built. That’s not for flood mitigation housing needs.

That new housing, Diane Ray said, would be needed for the 90 to 100 new people expected to move to the town over the next 10 years.

That’s one reason why the town has worked diligently toward completion of its first comprehensive plan, which goes before voters at a special town meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, in the municipal building.

Other matters to be addressed by voters that day include acceptance of a $250,000 community development block grant to construct a fire station away from the Androscoggin River flood plain, and a $98,000 flood mitigation assistance grant.

“This is the first time in the town’s history that we have money coming at us,” said Selectwoman Susan Gammon about the grants.

Ray, a co-chairperson of the Comprehensive Planning Committee, outlined key segments of the plan, driving home the importance of its acceptance at the Feb. 7 meeting.

That plan and detailed committee recommendations are available for viewing at the town office.

In plan development, Ray said the committee followed the wishes of townspeople, who want:

• The village relocated out of the flood plain from its site along Route 140.

• A viable local school, which can be seen as a central part of the community.

• A viable town center with character, small shops, a library, “good landscaping,” and more.

• Support for small businesses, especially a good economic base that keeps the “small town feel.”

• Water management – flood mitigation, lake protection and dam maintenance.

• Improved recreational opportunities.

• A walking bridge over Route 108, traffic lights, sidewalks, and other such safety-related infrastructure measures.

• Ordinances and planning to preserve the town’s natural and recreation resources, and attract businesses and residents.

Fire Chief Wayne Dube then explained the needs behind the $250,000 block grant, for which he applied late last year.

The town’s existing fire station is in the flood plain. Ray said the town suffers a major flood on average about once every 15 years.

“We are definitely water rich in this town. Sometimes more than we want,” she added.

Dube also said the 40-year-old building was too small for its growing community.

“The biggest reason why we need a new station is last month’s flood,” Dube said. “We spent two days pre-evacuating the fire station when we should have been out helping our citizens.”

Dube revealed plans for the proposed new 60-by-80-foot-long station to be built near the new highway garage on Route 108.

To get the $250,000, the town needs to provide a $50,000 match. Gammon said officials have a plan to do that without a net increase in taxes.

Steve Burgess, deputy director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency in Augusta, explained the $98,000 grant, which requires a 25 percent match from the town “that can be just about everything under the sun.”

Only 12.5 percent must be cash of some type.

Burgess said the federal grant doesn’t buy a lot of infrastructure or houses, but the town could use the money to establish a pilot flood mitigation program.

He advised Canton officials to talk with Fort Fairfield officials, who moved 40 homes and businesses out of the flood plain there when an ice jam flooded the town. Canton has 60 houses in the flood plain.

“We have a lot of attention in Augusta now. But the state doesn’t want to help us unless we help ourselves,” Dube said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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