Selectmen voted to send out requests for proposals for a feasibility study to improve accessibility at the town hall last week.

A lift that runs along a staircase inside the aging hall, which is located across the parking lot from the town office building, allows disabled people access to the second floor. It needs to be replaced, Town Manager Richard Chick said.

Options include replacing the lift, installing an elevator or constructing a ramp.

– John Plestina
Poland: Road runoff a problem

Selectmen discussed an upcoming bidding process to correct a stormwater problem on Plains Road between Poland Corner and Cobb roads last week.

Town Manager Richard Chick explained that water runs on the road, and ice problems occur during periods of cold weather. He said the water needs to be diverted away from the road.

– John Plestina
Auburn: Sandbags used at dam

Water District Superintendent Norm Lamie updated trustees last Wednesday on efforts to avert flooding when the dams at Lake Auburn nearly overflowed during a period of heavy rain on April 3.

About 200 sandbags were used to hold water behind the North Auburn Dam. The water level at the East Auburn Dam came within 6 inches of overflowing.

“We had some washing out at the southerly side of the dam,” Lamie said.

He added that if the north dam had washed out, flooding wouldn’t have been severe enough to have caused loss of life. There would have been some property damage, he said. “We have an emergency plan for breach of each dam, but we were not at that stage.”

The north dam was built during the 1950s and the east structure dates to the 1920s. There have been dams at both locations for more than 100 years.

Auburn: Chemical costs rising

The Water District trustees approved chemical purchases last Wednesday, with an explanation from Superintendent Norm Lamie about the increasing prices.

Lamie said many chemicals have increased in price due to security concerns.

The district will purchase 12-ton cylinders of gaseous chlorine from JCI Jones Chemicals of Merrimack, N.H., for $21,000; flurosilicic acid from Monson Companies Inc. of South Portland for $5,373; caustic soda from Monson for $23,504; anhydrous ammonia from Maine Oxy of Auburn for $$4,860; and sodium hypochlorite from Monson for $2,180.

The Lewiston Finance Board soon will consider purchases of the same chemicals from the same vendors with recommendations for approval, according to Lamie. Auburn and Lewiston jointly purchase chemicals for water treatment.