RANGLELEY — During a public hearing Monday, Nov. 18, Town Manager Joe Roach presented details for conceptual improvements along the 35-mile Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway.

The project, which is in the beginning stages of development, include planning, designing, engineering and constructing two Gateway Connector Hubs on town owned properties that currently serve as parking areas. The proposed byway project is a joint effort including Maine DOT, the town and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust.

One hub will be located on Depot Street in Rangeley; the other at the intersection of Routes 4 and 16 in Oquossoc.

MaineDOT preliminary concept plans for a Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway Gateway Connector Hub on Depot Street in Rangeley. (Photo by Dee Menear/Rangeley Highlander)

“This is a follow-up to the last meeting when I told you we have received an engineering cost proposal,” Roach told the board. “’The cost was just under $100,000 more than the independent estimate.”

Roach told the board he was interested in signing a contract with engineers so necessary survey work could move forward.

MaineDOT preliminary concept plans for a proposed for a Gateway Connector Hub along the Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway in Oquossoc. (Photo by Dee Menear/Rangeley Highlander)

“As you know, snow can happen any day,” he said. “I am interested in getting a contract signed with Wright-Pierce to get that done and to help them get ready for the first actual public hearing where their folks will take comments on the concepts.”

According to the project schedule, the public hearing is scheduled to take place in January.

“My concern at the last meeting was funding,” he said. “I was concerned that we don’t have enough in the downtown reserve. We have spent that down with the projects we have done.”

The estimated budget for the project comes in at approximately $735,000. Engineering costs are budgeted at just under $150,000. The bulk of the budget is attributed to construction costs, he added. Costs would be split between local, state and federal funding.

“The [Rangeley Lakes] Heritage Trust has a little bit of a buy-in, but the local share is 12 percent, state share is 10 percent, and federal share is 78 percent. As one of our residents pointed out at the last meeting, for every dollar we put in, there will be $8 of non-local funds coming into this project,” Roach continued.

Both properties will continue to serve as parking areas, but the idea is to integrate them into the byway system, he explained. The areas will include local information and interpretive signage.

“They are intended to get people to stop, get out and walk around the Village of Oquossoc and the Village of Rangeley,” he said. “It will really give them a sense of place rather than buzzing through at 30 miles an hour. I think Rangeley has always wanted to do this with these parking lots. I think it is a great way to do it.”

Following the public hearing, the board met for its regular meeting. The board voted in favor of Roach signing the project agreement with Maine DOT and to expend the town’s share of engineering costs using the highway reserve account.

In other matters, Police Chief Richard Caton IV stated the town is not eligible for a COPS Office grant that had been awarded. The grant was intended to fund hiring a new officer, Hiring was to take place after the official award date of Oct. 1.

Caton said the patrol officer was hired prior to that date making the town ineligible for the grant.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t know we were receiving the grant when we made the hire,” Roach said. “I am happy with the team we have hired.”

In a memo presented to the board, Caton reported the police department handled 316 calls for service during October.

In a separate memo, Fire Rescue Chief Michael Bacon reported the department had 66 calls for service in Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation and Dallas Plantation during October. There was also 1 mutual aid call.

The town office will have a change in hours during the week of Thanksgiving. The office will be open 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 and Tuesday, Nov. 26. The office will be closed for the remainder of the week.