ALBANY TOWNSHIP — Oxford County commissioners voted Tuesday to award a snowplowing contract to a new person this year.

The commissioners unanimously voted to award the contract to Earl Tyler of Bethel, a change from longstanding plower Everett Hatstat of Albany Township. County administrator Carole Fulton said Hatstat has been plowing for the county for more than 25 years. However, several residents complained at Tuesday’s meeting that the roads have not been adequately cleared in recent years.

The county is responsible for the maintenance of 22 miles of road in Albany Township. Hatstat bid $1,695 per mile for the one-year contract for a total of $37,290, while Tyler bid $2,650 per mile for a total of $58,300. Wilson Excavation of Waterford also bid on the contract for $3,300 per mile, or $72,600 total.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Albany Township residents said the roads were not plowed in a timely fashion and intersections were not kept clear. They also complained that the plowing was done in such a way that roads were narrowed and it is difficult for cars to pass one another and school buses to maneuver.

Fulton said Hatstat’s bid included signatures from 50 residents supporting him. Robert Owens, who plows for Hatstat, said some residents had asked him not to plow one section wide because it would put snow on their lawn. Owens said it is difficult to plow a wide path because of narrow roads.

“There’s just no place to put the snow,” Owens said.

Commissioner Caldwell Jackson motioned to give the bid to Tyler after saying there had not been an improvement in the work despite the complaints.

“How many times are you going to give this guy a chance, and it’s never going to work?” he said.

Jackson also suggested cutting back trees along the road to allow snow to be pushed off. However, county Road Commissioner Richard McInnis said some residents did not want the trees to be felled.

“If it’s a safety issue, we need to take the trees down,” Chairman David Duguay said.

Commissioner Steve Merrill said the board needs to look at the issue and determine whether the trees can be removed.

Scott Cole, who will become county administrator when Fulton retires at the end of the year, said he and McInnis will look at the county roads in the unorganized territories in the next 10 days.

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