The town-owned area near former power plant Mason Station is "kind of the focus at the moment, but it's not the be all to end all" for a sewer plant site, Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons said Oct. 6. "It's just where we're headed right now, because I do feel like we've got to keep this moving forward. We can't keep stalling on this" search for a site, he said.

He was talking about the action plan selectmen went on to approve, to study the site's potential for the plant and still field offers from private property owners and public entities. Selectman Sarah Whitfield said people have been floating Maine Department of Transportation's site across the Sheepscot River in Edgecomb as a spot to look at. "It may be even further than Mason Station, therefore much more expensive ... I'm just throwing it out there because a number of people have mentioned it, and it is also an industrial site."

From the audience, Wiscasset's Jim Crowley noted a pipe already runs under the river from Edgecomb to Wiscasset, "although it's a smaller pipe than what would be required if we were piping the entire flow to the other side. But it can be done ... "

Voters' rejection this year of moving the sewer plant to public works does not mean putting it there could never be reconsidered, Simmons confirmed when Crowley noted turnout for the June vote was half what it was for the November 2024 vote nodding that location.

According to Wiscasset Newspaper files, voters passed the proposal 1,416-832 in 2024 and rescinded that nod this year, 582-479.

"That was a much lesser (number) of people ... that made that decision ...," Crowley said. "I know it might be a little difficult, but is there anything that prohibits us from including that site with our ultimate list of potential sites to locate the treatment plant?"

Simmons said, as he tried to indicate in the action plan, the public works site "is not completely closed off ... It may be that we have to come back around to that, that it's not completely off the table."

Said Crowley, "I would think that, even though it may not be on the top of some people's lists, there may be reasons why that site is actually a competitive site with other potential sites ... so it shouldn't be just completely discarded off the table. It can be re-evaluated and we'll ultimately decide for the reasons we decide."

Ryan Gahagan of Mason Station Redevelopment Company, via Zoom, said of the town's new look at the Mason Station area, "As the potential landowner out there on Birch Point, I'm absolutely willing to collaborate and find creative solutions, should that be the likely location."

"Perfect," Simmons said.

Gahagan has for years been working toward possible uses including battery energy storage and a working waterfront marina. His company's option to buy or lease the former power plant from Mason Station, LLC was to run out in August. Gahagan confirmed to Wiscasset Newspaper Oct. 9, the option has been extended.

Gahagan explained via email, "Due to the passing of Joe Cotter (founder and president of National Resources, parent company of Mason Station, LLC), timing of environmental studies, and several other factors, it was necessary and in the best interest of both parties to extend the option period. I'm still very confident that a transfer of ownership can take place and the property can be an asset to the community once again. It's tough for me to be patient, I can't wait to be able to just get things done already, but it's taking the time it takes," Gahagan said. "We are aiming to close before the end of the year."

Gahagan said Cotter's death was unexpected, tragic and also "impacted National Resources' entire portfolio of properties."

Also Oct. 6, the board agreed to apply for a $100,000 Northern Border Regional Commission grant toward a feasibility study that is part of the new action plan on the search for a wastewater treatment plant site.

In other sewer news, selectmen set an Oct. 20 special town meeting for voters to consider spending up to $345,200 in capital reserve toward a match to an Environmental Protection Agency grant for pump station upgrades. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at Wiscasset Middle High School. 

Selectmen declined, 0-5, Town Clerk Rebecca Brewer's request to waive a required two hours for the Registrar of Voters office to be open one night within the last five business days before Election Day. According to the discussion, the evening hours previously had no takers, and the board wants to try again, this time with publicity. Whitfield doubted residents knew about the evening hours before. She didn't.

The evening hours ahead of the Nov. 3 election are to be announced. 

Said Chair Alissa Eason, "Access to opportunities to vote are critical to a democracy ..."