Board: Minot Selectmen

Met: Monday Night

Library services

Scoop: Selectmen signed an agreement with the Auburn Public Library Board of Trustees for the Auburn Public Library to provide full library services to residents. At the March 1 town meeting, voters approved $15,000 for that purpose, and now residents are entitled to library cards and full access to all APL services and facilities.

Up Next: The agreement is for one year. Selectmen will be appointing a resident to serve on the library’s board of directors.

Village Wood Estates

Issue: The developer of Village Wood Estates subdivision seeks Planning Board permission for a temporary T turnaround, rather than a cul-de-sac as required by town ordinance. It would be at the end of the road serving the proposed 13-lot development along the old railroad bed in West Minot.

Scoop: The T turnaround is touted as temporary, serving phase I of Lloyd Poland’s development. Development of 188 acres beyond the turnaround is scheduled in 2012. Selectmen said the only way they would consider acceptance of the subdivision road is if Poland builds a cul-de-sac or escrow enough money to allow the town to build it by hiring an outside contractor.

Up Next: While the Planning Board has accepted Poland’s subdivision application, the approval process is expected to be lengthy, with a project going before both the town’s Planning Board and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

New plow truck

Scoop: At the March 1 town meeting, voters approved buying a new plow truck. The town could have that truck on the road as early as March 21. Selectmen accepted Whited Ford Sterling’s low bid of $131,025, less $8,500 trade in for the town’s 1988 plow truck, for a 2008 plow truck with Tenco plow gear.

Road Posting

Issue: Heavy trucks and equipment damage roads softened and heaved by the season’s warm days and cold nights.

Scoop: Road Manager Arlan Saunders has restricted town roads to heavy trucks and equipment until further notice. People wishing to run heavy equipment on town roads must contact Saunders at the town office for permits. People granted permission to use posted town roads sign a statement that they accept responsibility for any damage they might cause.

Disaster response plan

Issue: In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it was evident that Gulf Coast communities had no plan for taking care of household pets during the time of disaster.

Scoop: Selectmen adopted an animal disaster response and protection plan as presented by Sharon Campbell, town emergency management agency director. The plan, which coordinates efforts with Mechanic Falls and Poland, applies only to household cats and dogs; no livestock or exotic pets. People seeking additional information may contact Campbell or Town Administrator Rhonda Irish.

– Winslow Durgin