MEXICO – Selectmen learned from Town Manager John Madigan Wednesday night that they could see a large increase in general assistance payouts next month.

“I’m getting more and more requests every day because people are hurting out there for heat and electricity,” Madigan said.

With winter approaching, Madigan said he’s gotten requests for help from people who have accumulated power bills of as much as $700 and $800. In those cases, he calls the power company to determine the absolute minimum payment allowed to assist people.

In other business, Road Commissioner David Errington said a crew would be repairing Mexico’s side of the Mexico-Dixfield bridge that links Backkingdom Road in Mexico with Dixfield’s Coburn Brook Road.

Errington said flat pieces of metal would be placed over soft spots on the bridge, then a pavement patch will be placed over that.

Selectman George Byam said he examined the bridge Tuesday and believed that work would resolve problems with it.

“Nobody’s going to fall through it, but it looks like it and feels like it” when driven over, he said.

Madigan said a fuel truck went down the road Wednesday and made it through OK, which is why he’s going to have Mexico fire Chief Gary Wentzell try it with a firetruck.

Errington recommended that Mexico keep the road plowed as well, keeping the road open for emergency vehicles that may have to respond to area.

Selectmen agreed that was a good idea.