PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — City councilors on Wednesday discussed upgrades to streetlights and The Forum and heard updates on the splash pad and road construction projects.
At their Oct. 4 meeting, councilors approved a $35,000 survey by Real Term Energy as part of a future upgrade project to the city’s streetlights. The city is looking to upgrade the lights to LED, which could save Presque Isle 40 to 60 percent of the current cost, according to City Manager Martin Puckett.
“I’m excited about the streetlights,” Puckett told councilors. “ I think it will lead to a major improvement in making sure they’re facing the proper direction as well as increase the amount of safety for pedestrians and vehicles.”
Now that fall weather has made an appearance in The County, it’s too late in the season to test Riverside Park’s new splash pad, Puckett said.
“The project is due to be completed now in October and it’s unlikely we’re going to have warm enough days for people to enjoy it,” he said.
Air was blasted through the splash pad’s pipes to check for leaks, he said, but if there was a water test now, the ground surrounding the pad has no grass and would result in a muddy situation.
“As soon as we get warm days in the spring, that’s when we’ll open it and test it and do a grand opening,” he said.
The splash pad is expected to open May 1, 2018.
Puckett also told councilors that work has been delayed on a section of State Street that’s been closed for construction since May.
Signs in town say construction of the new Presque Isle bypass between Route 167 and the Conant Road will be complete this month.
According to the city manager, however, that section of road may not be open until the second week of November.
Parks and recreation maintenance director Tyler Clark updated councilors during Wednesday’s meeting on needed improvements to The Forum.
Councilors approved $14,000 on new doors for the facility to either be installed by the city or put out to bid.
Councilors also discussed with Clark the possibility of upgrading The Forum’s aging boiler system. The issue was tabled until further information can be gathered on the cost of removing the boiler tank. The city manager expects the discussion will continue at the council’s next meeting, set to begin at 5:15 p.m. on Oct. 11 in the council chambers in City Hall.
