DIXFIELD — Selectmen unanimously approved contracting with A.E. Hodsdon Consulting Engineers to design road, storm drain, sewer and water projects for the downtown area.

Once the master plan is completed, in about a year, the plan would allow the town to “chip away” at various projects according to priority and funding.

The vote to contract with the Waterville company is contingent upon the town receiving about $10,000 in grants from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s Drinking Water program.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said the Water Department budget has $6,000 for the engineering work, the sewer department has just over $5,500, and the municipal road reserve account has just over $22,000. The entire engineering project will cost $40,000.

Selectman Malcolm Gill said the town might want to have the outlying roads engineered for future upgrades, as well.

Skibitsky said the town wanted to include engineering for Porter Road now and other rural roads in the future.

“It’s an advantage to look at all roads for when funding becomes available,” Al Hodsdon said.

Skibitsky was pleased with the board’s action.

“This has been a long time coming,” he said.

In other matters, the board learned that the town crew has plowed roads 42 times so far this winter compared to 20 times by the same date last year, resulting in 81 percent of budgeted overtime already used.

Public Works Foreman David Phair said unofficial snow totals for the town are 60 inches so far this year, compared to 41 inches at the same time last year. He said the department still has about 45 tons of salt.

In another Public Works matter, the board approved spending $7,440 for the repair of the town’s 1993 International plow truck.

Nominations for Distinguished Citizen of the Year are wanted. Those wishing to nominate a resident must get letters into the Town Office by April 18. The board will choose a person who will be honored at the town meeting on May 26.

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