TURNER — Road construction and winter maintenance were discussed this week when transportation officials attended the Board of Selectmen meeting.

Board Chairman Angelo Terreri expressed particular concern over Route 117, or North Parish Road between Turner Center and Howes Corner. He said every winter there are several minor accidents on that road because it is so uneven that it can’t be properly plowed.

Selectman Ralph Caldwell said the only bad roads in Turner are the state-aid roads.

Norman Haggan of the Maine Department of Transportation’s Dixfield Regional Office said the classification of roads and which programs are available for maintenance. He said the state maintains “major collectors” such as Route 219, which is the principal route from Turner to Augusta.

Selectmen agreed with Haggan that the state is doing an excellent job of rebuilding that road.

Minor collector roads such as North Parish Road are state-aid roads, Haggan said. The state pays two-thirds of the cost of maintenance and the town pays one-third.

Selectman Kurt Youland asked about the cost of rebuilding a road such as North Parish Road, which has not had major work done on it since 1956.

Haggan said it would cost about $800,000 per mile. The portions of Route 219 that do not need complete rebuilding are costing about $300,000 per mile, he said.

In other business:

* Selectmen announced that the town’s annual tree-lighting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, in the Town Hall parking lot.

Refreshments will be served and Santa Claus and other celebrities and dignitaries will spread the Christmas spirit. All are invited to attend.

* Selectmen again discussed renewing the contract with Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. to dispose of municipal solid waste.

Town Manager Eva Leavitt said the present contract expires Dec. 31. The lowest price offered by MMWAC was $69.88 per ton for a 10-year contract.

Caldwell said the spot-price tipping fee was $55 per ton and was expected to go down through the winter when there is usually less trash.

Adam Varney of Andy Valley Refuse Service, who hauls waste from Turner, said he would not sign the contract. He offered to haul it to ecomaine in Portland, which will take it at $55 per ton. He said he felt MMWAC would “sharpen their pencil” if towns turned down their contracts.

Selectmen agreed not to sign a contract at this time.