Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Army Corps of Engineers will host a public meeting at Presque Isle Middle School on Wednesday, Dec. 10, beginning at 7 p.m., giving citizens an opportunity to voice their concerns on the proposed bypass. The meeting follows City Council’s request, on behalf of local citizens, for the Army Corps to allow the public an opportunity to provide input on the project.
“We’re considering an application by the Maine Department of Transportation to narrow in on a preferred (route) alternative,” said Jay Clement, senior project manager with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Clement said this portion of the project won’t involve performing any work but will assist in the overall planning process.
“We’ve had several requests for public hearings. We elected to do it in the form of a public meeting instead of a formal public hearing,” he said.
A public meeting will allow citizens to comment more freely than would be the case with a public hearing.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think the majority of interest of the public would be served (in a hearing format),” said Clement.
Clement said the meeting format will provide, “a much more open and frank discussion.”
“There’ll be more opportunity for give-and-take,” he said.
“The meeting is currently scheduled for Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. With the assistance of the city, we were able to reserve the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium,” said Clement.
He hopes this meeting will provide the opportunity for citizens an opportunity to have their voices, and concerns, heard.
“The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public to ask the Army Corps, DOT and federal highway representatives present questions about bypass options currently on the table,” said Clement.
The bypass was also on the minds of Presque Isle City Council as they gathered Monday night to discuss the city’s 2009 budget. Council Chairman Walt Elish advised councilors that Ken Arndt, the city’s planning and development director, was in the process of scheduling a joint meeting between the Presque Isle and Caribou councils to discuss the Corridor Management Plan. Councilors agreed the best date for them to meet with Caribou officials would be on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The meeting will be held at the Northern Maine Development Commission and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
