ROCKPORT — The Select Board in Rockport will convene Monday evening, Feb . 22, at 5:30 p.m., via Zoom to review three bids to extend the sewer along Route 1 from the existing line terminus near Sea Light Lane to South Street.

The board will also consider how it will finance the town’s purchase of a Daigle & Houghton Western Star 4700SF plow truck for the Public Works Department. The board approved the purchase at its Jan. 11 meeting, and Town Manager William Post is suggesting the town finance it through Androscoggin Bank for a total of $202,730, at an interest rate of 1.89% for a seven-year term.

Additionally, the board will consider selling tax acquired property at 280 Rockland Street (Route 17) to Mark Siegenthaler, of Camden, for $43,250. The town received two bids for the property, with one bidder withdrawing his bid after the bid opening. 

The public can view the Feb. 21 meeting at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine.  Public comments or questions should be sent to the Town Manager at wpost@rockportmaine.gov or can be provided remotely through the livestream of the meeting.

Sewer extension

Rockport has working for decades to extend the municipal sewer line along Route 1 from Rockland Village to Pen Bay Medical Center, and the intersection of South Street. Currently, there is a gap in the Route 1 sewer line, with the wastewater from Sea Light Lane north, including the Village, going to Camden for treatment, and the wastewater from Pen Bay Medical Center and the Glen Cove area going south the City of Rockland for treatment.

The town has accomplished its Route 1 extension goal in phases since 1988, when  the town extended the line from the intersection of Route 90 to Elwood Avenue.

Extensions to the original system were also made in 1999 to serve Camden Hills Regional High School, on Route 90.

In 2013, voters approved the extension from Elwood Ave. to Sea Light Lane, the current terminus. Read: Rockport voters to consider extending sewer, changing zoning rules for library, CMP

Sewer users were told then that their bills would include charges for usage of the system called the “User Fee”, based on the amount of water that used. Additionally, they were advised that there was also a section of the bill called the “Debt Fee” which helped to cover the then payments on current debt.

Users were also told in 2013: “Within the next few years, much of the original debt to build the sewer will be paid off, and this could lead to a decrease in the debt fee. As the original debt is retired, the Wastewater Commissioners plan to use a portion of the debt fee to build a reserve account which will be used for needed repairs and upgrades to the entire system as it ages.”

On Monday, Rockport Select Board members will hear the recommendation of Town Manager William Post to contract with the low bidder Nitram Excavation and General Contractor, Inc. of Benton, $5,846,748 for the pending sewer extension.

Other bidders include McGee Construction at $6,433,500 and Sargent Corporation, of $7,729,490.

This bid price includes both the town’s wastewater costs and Maine Water Company costs for its share of the project, said Post, in a pre-meeting memo.

“After review by Woodard & Curran, the wastewater share of the project amounts to $4,485,428,” he said. “The Town currently has funding in place for up to $5,200,000 for this project. Woodard & Curran recommends the Town award the contract to Nitram Excavation.”