CANTON – A public hearing was held Tuesday night to hear progress on Phase 2 of the firehouse grant and the innovative housing grant, which are part of the $750,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded for flood damage to the town in mid-December.

Fire Chief Wayne Dube reviewed the original plan where the firehouse is to be placed near the town garage on Route 108. It will be 80 feet along Route 108 and 68-feet deep. He said that the Department of Environmental Protection has taken dirt samples and the next step will be to put out bids to fill in the site. He said the project is on budget.

In response to one question, Dube said the building will be 80 feet from the town garage.

Dube said the town sewer would be extended 690 feet to reach the firehouse and this extension would include the town garage. Town water is not available now as it is too far away. He said they want to get the bids out for the fill by June 1.

Diane Ray gave an update on the progress of the innovative housing grant. The town is applying for funds from several sources for flood mitigation to assist in buying homes in the flood plain and providing relocation assistance for those residents. The town expects the entire process – including about 60 homes – will cost $6- to $7 million. The CDBG Grant for $400,000 is the first buyout money that the town has received.

Ray also named the Special Projects Committees, which address flood mitigation, recovery of land and what to do with it, the Pine Tree Zone, a new downtown and marketing the town.

During the selectmen’s meeting following the hearing, selectmen appointed Diane Ray and Clint Conant to the Pine Tree Zone Committee. They will be working with the River Valley Growth Council.

There will be a meeting at the Canton Lake dam at 9 a.m. on Monday held by the Maine Emergency Management Association. The Maine Municipal Association has requested that some repairs be made to the dam.