Woolwich selectmen on Tuesday, Jan. 21 granted an easement for Wiscasset Water District to have a small meter building a short distance from the Nequasset Park entrance off George Wright Road.

The building will replace an underground meter pit on town-owned property.

Water District Superintendent Chris Cossette and Paul Cote from the Portland-based engineering firm of Tata & Howard presented plans for the building when they met with the select board in November. An easement was needed to construct the building on town property. Selectmen referred them to Road Commissioner Jack Shaw.

Shaw said Jan. 21,  he had visited the site and he saw no problems with the building’s design. Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert also reviewed the plans.

Cote said the wooden building was 16 by 20 feet and about nine feet high. It would resemble the municipal building, roughly square-shaped with a peaked black asphalt-shingled roof and white vinyl siding. A small paved drive will provide access to it from George Wright Road. The area where the meter building will be is approximately 65 feet long by 25 feet wide.

“It will be just large enough inside to get the water transmission line through it,” said Cote. He added, the building would have no windows and just a single door. 

“Will you need to shut down the water line when you do this,” Selectman Dale Chadbourne asked. “No, it will remain operational throughout and when it’s done we’ll just switch over,” responded Cote. He said an apple tree there wouldn’t be affected.

“Draw up whatever paperwork is needed, bring it down and we’ll sign it,” Chairman David King Sr. said after the vote approving the easement.The water district hopes to construct the building next summer.

Earlier in the evening, the board held a workshop with Juanita Wilson-Hennessey, the town’s assessing agent. Among the business discussed was the possibility of contracting a town-wide property revaluation, although no decision was reached. It’s been about 20 years since Woolwich’s last revaluation. The cost of a new one was estimated at $250,000 to $300,000.

Fire Chief Mike Demers noted the fire department responded to 168 calls last year, 16 more than the previous year. EMS Director Brian Carlton said the ambulance department responded to eight calls for service since the board’s last meeting. Seven of the eight calls resulted in transports to the hospital, he noted.

Selectman and State District 53 Rep. Allison Hepler was absent due to attending the governor’s State of the State address.

The board is starting work on the 2020-2021 town budget