MINOT – The Androscoggin Valley Sheriff’s Department has learned who illegally dumped loads of asphalt shingles at two locations in Minot and Selectman Eda Tripp said corrective measures were under way.

“I want to commend them for doing a heck of a good job. They responded quickly and have come up with the culprit,” Tripp told selectmen this week.

Two weeks ago, according to Tripp, when the Sheriff’s Department got wind that Minot Road Manager Arlan Saunders had asked selectmen for advice on whether he should become involved in the cleanup of large piles of asphalt shingles dumped on private land just off Center Minot Hill Road, Sheriff Guy Desjardins and Chief Deputy Mike Ward appeared in her driveway.

Tripp took them to Dick Thayer’s land, near Marston Hill Road, where there were three piles, and then down the road near Auburn, by Central Maine Power Co.’s line, to two piles on Harold Bridgham’s land.

“It was that rainy Wednesday morning. They pawed through all the piles and picked out some evidence they thought they could trace,” Tripp said.

Chief Deputy Ward said some of the evidence led them to a residence on Bell Hill Road in Auburn to work performed by Robinson Roofing of Gardiner.

“The property owner was clearly not at fault and the roofing company thought the workers they hired were taking care of the shingles properly, which they evidently didn’t,” Ward said.

He said the company has agreed to clean up the piles of shingles and added “charges will be brought forward,” but declined to specify exactly what and against whom.

“Illegal dumping like this is unsafe for the environment, shows disrespect for people’s property and for anyone who gets caught, they should know they will be prosecuted,” Ward said.

Tripp noted that the people of Minot take pride in keeping their roadsides clean.

“We have a lot of people who walk the roadsides, keeping their own property and nearby property clean, but then you have something like this, and I’m happy the sheriff stepped in and am very proud of them for doing a heck of a good job,” she said.