Residents press board on truck engine-brake noise and jet-ski safety on local lakes

Residents raised two separate public-safety concerns during the Harrison Select Board meeting on June 25.

At the start of public comment, Matt Monson of 187 Norway Road told the board that double-crib logging trucks on Route 117 are using engine/exhaust brakes in town and traveling at high speeds, creating noise and safety risks near shorefront properties. He asked the board to pursue signage asking truckers to avoid engine brakes and to pursue stronger speed enforcement. The chair and staff recommended contacting the Maine Department of Transportation (for signage options) and local law enforcement for speed enforcement; staff (John) said he would follow up and identify hot spots for next-year mitigation planning.

Later in public comment, residents including Gail Bowen and Carol Durkin described frequent no-wake-zone violations on Crystal Lake by personal watercraft (jet skis), which are often rented and operated by visitors. Speakers said juvenile wildlife has been harmed and that current enforcement (Maine Warden Service) is inconsistent because responses can be delayed. The board and staff discussed short-term steps: asking the warden service to prioritize weekend patrols, placing the harbor master on-site as a deterrent (he cannot issue tickets), and collecting incident reports to support any long-term regulatory changes. Staff noted that banning personal watercraft would require a state-level process and signatures and would not happen immediately.

What comes next: staff will contact MDOT about signage for engine-brake noise areas, coordinate with the warden service about lake patrols and report back to the board at a future meeting; residents were encouraged to document and report incidents to build a record supporting policy changes.