LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen are warning residents not to dispose of items such as diapers and baby wipes in toilets or drains because they are clogging sewer lines.

“I think part of the problem is our customers don’t pay attention to what they’re throwing down the lines,” Selectman Ron Chadwick said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Selectmen, who also serve as sewer trustees, talked about the line-clogging problems that have occurred through the years. Selectman Tom Barker wondered if there was a way of notifying customers annually about what couldn’t be disposed of in the sewer system.

Chadwick mentioned that with the sewer rate increase the town passed recently, it was just barely balancing its budget. The town can’t pay for major repairs with the rate increase, he said.

“There is money for a big repair,” Town Manager Kristal Flagg said. “We just can’t do everything all at once.”

The town will have Ted Berry Co. of Livermore use a thermal imaging camera to check the lines for blockages or places that need to be repaired.

“When they did the first third of the town, a lot of the lines didn’t get the camera due to protruding surfaces,” Sewer Superintendent Greg Given said.

The board discussed the condition of the sewer treatment plant roof as well. Flagg noted that the town was putting together a bid package and would be advertising for repair of the roof shortly.

Barker asked if consideration had been given to replacing the asphalt shingles with a steel roof. Given said that if a steel roof were installed, snow would come off it and present a hazard for people walking in and out of the building.

Forester John Churchill reviewed bids with selectmen for wood harvesting that will take place on a town lot on Diamond Road. J&M Logging of Augusta submitted the highest bid for the work at $18,500.

“It’s a very good firm, very reputable,” he said.

Selectmen voted 5-0 to accept the bid.

In other business, selectmen:

• Set Monday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. for a public hearing on the 2018 town budget. They approved a $2.37 million budget at a meeting April 7.

• Voted in favor of taking $3,000 from the building account to fix a leak in the Town Office roof.

• Scheduled a workshop on the fire station and a selectmen’s meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. May 1.

bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net

Livermore Falls Town Office