MEXICO — Selectmen on Tuesday tabled the issue of whether the town should continue plowing Backkingdom Road all the way to Albert Aniel’s doorstep, because they want more information.

Town Manager John Madigan had learned that the road possibly ended 300 or more feet before Aniel’s door step. At Tuesday’s meeting, Madigan presented historical data, including maps, land deeds and minutes from town meetings from the 1800s in an attempt to find the exact end of the road.

Minutes from a town meeting in 1848 showed town acceptance of the road up to the doorstep of the Mitchell property, now owned by Aniel, he said. However in 1864, an article was found on the town meeting agenda that discontinued the road to the east line of the property.

Madigan cross-checked with deeds to the property and historical town maps and discovered two names were listed on multiple deeds. It was unclear who owned which property at that time and which property was discussed in the 1864 meeting, he said.

Betty Barrett, 86, of Mexico said she remembered when she was young that Backkingdom Road, or Backkingdom Brooke Road as it was called then, went up to what is now Aniel’s doorstep.

Aniel contended Tuesday night that the road has always gone to his doorstep. He also argued that if the town is improving all of Backkingdom Road it should also pave up to his doorstep.

Wanting to further research the matter with the Maine Municipal Association and possibly the town attorney, the board tabled the issue.

They also unanimously decided to give an an old town truck that had been parked for two years at the Mexico Recreation Park to recreation board Chairman Todd Wardwell. The truck had been vandalized and failed inspection.

“I think we need to set the example in town with keeping our properties cleaned up,” Selectman Peter Merrill said before motioning to give the truck to Wardwell.


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