Hebron flood damage to cost $7,200 or more

HEBRON — Damage caused by early June flooding has already cost the town $7,200, and could cost another $5,000 or more, said selectmen at their meeting Monday.

Chairman Dick Deans said that the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is waiting on the town's preliminary estimate for roadwork.

He said that the town has already spent about $7,200 on road repairs since flooding washed them out.

Sodom, Oxford, Burnham, Ben Stone and Allen Roads were hardest hit by the flooding, said Deans.

"If we don't pave, we are going to have to do a bunch of work there," said Selectman Jim Reid about Allen Road. "We have to fix the shoulder anyway," he added. 

"We got $7,200 in it already, and Ben Stone [Road] needs some extensive work, so that will be probably be another $5,000 or $6,000," said Deans.

Deans said that of all the roads, Ben Stone is probably in the worst condition because of the storm.

Reid said that Drake and Sons Contractors Inc. is working on getting "an estimate on what [it] thought it would take to get it [Allen Road] back to what it was and maybe help us just a little bit better with the water ... but I don't think there is much you can do because it's pretty much hills on both sides."

Deans said that the water might drain if the culverts were cleaned out.

He also reported that the bridge by Storekeepers on Station Road has the tendency to wash out during rainstorms, but he was surprised to learn it hadn't.

"A young fella took a ride down there on [Route] 119 that morning, came around the corner ... and hydroplaned and went right off into the ditch," said Deans.

Deans said that he would get an estimate of the total cost of road repairs and submit it to EMA.

"I believe they said we [Maine] have to have around $1 million dollars worth of damage to declare it a disaster for FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] money," said Deans.

"Everything in Norway was washed right out," said Reid. "I think central Maine got hit pretty hard."

In other news, the board:

• Reported that Allen Road will be closed for two days the week of Monday, June 18 to replace a culvert.

• Scheduled a public hearing for the Redneck Rodeo to take place June 25 at 6:30 p.m.

• Rejected two paving bids from Pike Industries and Lane Construction because they did not meet specifications. The town will give them a chance to resubmit their bids and will review the contracts at a special selectmen's meeting scheduled for June 18 at 7 p.m.