LIVERMORE — Residents are ignoring a sign that prohibits entrance to the Transfer Station when it’s not open to get sand. In some cases, residents are also taking salt from the salt shed, which has never been allowed, Administrative Assistant Kurt Schaub said Wednesday.

“People are ignoring the sign in growing numbers, which creates a hazard for our road crew when they’re trying to get in and out during storms,” Schaub said.

The sign at the Transfer Station lists the hours it is open as 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There is no admission other than those hours and days, Schaub said.

Residents are allowed to get two 5-gallon buckets per storm. That has been the rule for several years, he said.

Highway foreman Roger Ferland requested that the Transfer Station close last Saturday due to the freezing rain and due to not being able to keep sand on the station road and grounds.

“They couldn’t keep the facility safe for users, especially with the plow trucks having to go in and out,” Schaub said. “The first priority is the roads. Consideration was also given to the numerous advisories put out by the National Weather Service and others to stay off the roads.”

Schaub said he was also told recently that several Livermore residents had been at the Livermore Falls Highway Garage getting sand when they could not get it in Livermore.

“We do have sand available at the Highway Garage that people can get on days when the Transfer Station is not open,” he said. The garage is on Church Street.

The sign at the Transfer Station prohibiting entrance when it is not open was suggested by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department. The sign was needed if the town wanted to prosecute trespassers, he said.

“The purpose of the sign is to put people on notice that they are breaking the law by coming into the facility when it is closed,” he said.

dperry@sunjournal.com