DIXFIELD — Dirigo sports fans will be watching Friday night football under the lights next season, thanks to an overwhelming vote at a special town meeting Thursday night.

At that same town meeting, voters learned that constructing a sewer main under a planned new Webb River Bridge will cost less than half what was originally estimated. Voters approved that question, too.

Nearly 30 residents turned out to approve taking $50,000 from the Ione Harlow Dixfield Community Fund to help pay for installing lights at the Dirigo High School athletic field, which is owned by the town.

Among the few dissenters were Greg and Wanda Hamilton, who reside on Nash Street, which is  adjacent to the school’s athletic fields.

Greg said he wasn’t concerned with the lights, but with what may accompany them.

“It’s a hassle to get out of our driveway, there are cigarette butts all over my lawn,” he said. “A lot of people are rude. I’m not against the lights but the parking. I have to live in that neighborhood.”

Scott Holmes, one of the major forces behind getting lights at the athletic field, said more people are expected to attend night games, which means there will be more revenue.

“We’ll have more security on Friday nights,” he said.

He is also planning to hold abutting landowner meetings to iron out any problems that could arise.

The plan calls for erecting the lights and installing all electrical work required, a project estimated to cost about $75,000. Volunteers will do virtually all the work, and the remaining funds will come from fundraising by the Dirigo Boosters Club.

Night lights could also be used for other events, Holmes said.

RSU 10 will pay the electrical costs for night games. Anyone else who wishes to use the night lights will pay for those costs, as well, Holmes said.

The second article was also overwhelmingly approved. It asked residents to approve borrowing up to $250,000 to be used to replace a sewer main that connects the town with the sewage treatment plant in Mexico. It runs under the Webb River Bridge, which is expected to be replaced by the Maine Department of Transportation next year.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said when the MDOT opened bids last month, the cost proposals to replace the sewer main ranged from about $80,000 to just over $130,000. When the MDOT awards the contract, which is expected in a month or so, Skibitksy said the town can then go out for bonding for the sewer main.

Only sewer users will repay the bond, Skibitsky said.

The only dissenters questioned whether the bridge should be replaced.

Resident Dan McKay said he had received information from an MDOT bridge engineer who said the bridge could last another five years.

Vice-chairman Stephen Donahue asked why that engineer hadn’t mentioned that during the past two years as the MDOT and town began planning for the bridge replacement.

Resident Bruce Ross said the Webb River Brdige was going to be changed, whether it is this year or next.

“It’s a no brainer. It’s going to be done and it won’t cost more for sewer rates,” he said.

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