FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners are giving three property owners in Salem Township who have erected signs at the end of their driveways, declaring them as named lanes, 10 days to remove them, unless there is a legality that would interfere with that ruling.
County Clerk Julie Magoon brought up her concerns and those of E911 addressing officer Debra Richards to commissioners Tuesday that if there were emergencies at these residences it would be confusing to responders. Residents may not get the help requested in time, she said.
“They have taken it upon themselves to put up road signs and numbers,” Magoon said.
The county has formal names for the roads for 911 emergency purposes.
The road names in Salem Township have not been approved. One of the signs looks exactly like a county road sign, she said.
Two of the signs are at the end of people’s driveways.
“God forbid someone needs help,” Magoon said.
Three letters were drafted to give the property owners an opportunity to remove the signs or the county would have them covered.
Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay asked if the signs were in the county’s right of way. After Magoon confirmed they were, McGrane suggested to “just take them up.”
Public hearings were held before the proposed names went into effect, Chairman Clyde Barker of Strong said.
After reviewing the letter to be sent to the three owners, McGrane said giving them 90 days is too generous. He suggested they get 10 days to remove them.
“If it is in a county way, we have a right to control it,” Magoon said.
If it is a private way, the county wouldn’t name a road.
There is a formal process to rename or name a road, including petitioning to change a name, Barker said.
Magoon said the county could take them down and give them an opportunity to remove them is just a courtesy.
In other business, commissioners voted to support proposed names for mountain areas.
They supported the name Patriot’s Peak for a hill of the Day Mountain Road in Temple. Voters in the town approved naming the area in March. Marc Maria of Rhode Island, who owns the property on the privately owned Swan Road, asked the United States Geological Survey to name the hill on his property Patriot’s Peak.
The second name supported was Bigelow Notch in Carrabassett Valley and Wyman Township. It is along a scenic byway on Route 27.
Bigelow Notch was suggested by the Maine High Peaks Scenic Byway Committee.
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