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Ferry Road relocation bogged down by historic‑preservation, bat concerns and required archaeological survey tied to federal funding
Summary
Board debated a Ferry Road relocation project that would reduce runoff into a river; federal historic‑preservation staff and IFW raised concerns that may require an archaeological survey and tree‑cutting restrictions, potentially adding substantial cost and delay to a federally funded road project.
Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing Ferry Road relocation and associated federal requirements. The project—intended to meander a gravel spur off a main route to reduce nonpoint‑source pollution into a nearby river—received positive community support for safety and environmental mitigation, but staff from historic preservation and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (IFW) flagged concerns.
The manager reported that historic‑preservation staff in Augusta recommended an archaeological review and that IFW asked the town not to cut trees within a 250‑foot zone. Some board members expressed frustration that the archaeological request and tree restrictions were adding procedural hurdles to a project the board considers environmentally beneficial. The manager said the archaeology work could be substantial and that his office will check whether HUD or the federal grant will cover the survey and whether it is an eligible expense; he estimated the survey might be expensive but did not provide a firm cost.
Members discussed potential avenues for state or college support for archaeology work and said they will seek pricing and eligibility determinations before deciding how to proceed. No final vote was taken; the board asked staff to get cost estimates and federal‑eligibility guidance.
