USDA RD Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grant Program Project Announcement

USDA RD Project Announcement

This Rural Development investment will be used to rehabilitate the Town of Bridgton, Maine’s wastewater treatment system. The proposed project is to construct a new wastewater treatment facility, upgrade some aging sewer collection infrastructure, and to expand the system which will enable additional users in the greater downtown area to have access to public wastewater services. The expansion portion of the project is expected to add 448 new users, increasing the total number of users on the system from 207 to 655. The proposed project will focus on the wastewater system/facility as it is in need of immediate upgrades.

Some of the plant’s original equipment and processes are upwards of thirty-five years old, and the overall facility is well beyond the twenty-year useful life for which it was originally designed. The plant is now at an age where it has a greater chance of equipment failure and it has incurred increased maintenance needs. Several key unit processes at the plant are inefficient, inadequate, or obsolete. The rehabilitation improvements address the aging infrastructure and capacity issues in the project area, as well as restore the design capacity of the facility at a reasonable cost. The proposed upgrades, which are long overdue, will help the system operate more effectively and efficiently, as well as address the Maine Department of Environmental Protection health and sanitary concerns. The upgrades included in this project represent the highest priorities identified in the Town’s Strategic Plan and will have the greatest benefit to the distribution system. The proposed project is in an Agency identified target area. Rural Development staff have been working within the City over the past few years to extend our services and programs to help the City enhance its mission. The proposed project will not only correct the system’s current operating deficiencies, but also help the City improve their economic development opportunities.

The proposed project is a collaborative effort with funding provided by the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the Town of Bridgton, and Rural Development. By working together all organizations are able to enhance their selection criteria and make their limited resources go further.

 

Other Funding:
$2,000,000 Clean Water State Revolving Fund
$443,000 Town of Bridgton

Total Project Cost: $20,880,000

Loan Term: 28 years @ 2.375%

Other Funding: Other: $2,443,000.00
Total Project Cost: $22,880,000.00

 

Notice of Community Development Grant Fund Availability

Legal Advertisement
Notice of Community Development Grant Fund Availability
Call for Applications
Please be advised the Town of Bridgton is soliciting applications for the TOWN OF BRIDGTON MAINE & CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CDBG PROGRAM for FFY 2019. Applications are due January 21, 2019 on or before 4 PM. Applications shall fall under the following types of projects/programs: Public Service, Public Infrastructure/Facility, Housing, Downtown Revitalization, or Economic Development. Applications must meet one of 2 national objectives: serving those with low/moderate income or for the elimination of slum and blight. Applications will be reviewed by staff and forwarded to the Community Development Committee for a recommendation and then forwarded to the Select Board for approval. It is not known as o. For Infrastructure project applications click here. For Public Service applications click here. Applicants are required to attend one MANDATORY “workshop” with Community Development staff to review requirements and project eligibility. There will be two opportunities with 2 different time slots to attend a workshop:
Tuesday December 18, 2018 at 10:30 AM or Wednesday December 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM. Other questions may be directed to Brenda Day, Administrative Assistant at the town office (207-803-9963.)

Bridgton Public Library – Strategic Planning 2018-2019 Survey

Bridgton Public Library would like your input in our planning for the upcoming year. There is a brief survey online, available at the Main Circulation Desk, and in the Town Office Lobby asking about what you need from them at the Bridgton Public Library.

The Library values your thoughts and wants to know what you think about their programs and services.

Pondicherry Park Stewardship Committee Vacancy

Town of Bridgton
Pondicherry Park Stewardship Committee Vacancy

The Town of Bridgton is accepting applications for an individual to serve on the Pondicherry Park Stewardship Committee. Residents interested in representing Bridgton should submit a Committee Application to the Town of Bridgton, 3 Chase Street, Suite 1, Bridgton no later than November 21, 2018.

Applications are available at the Town Office and may be downloaded HERE.

Highland Lake Beach Testing

** MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT **

Highland Lake Beach Testing
Town of Bridgton
Wednesday, August 1st, 

This morning we received the test results from the Paris Utility District for the water at Highland Lake Beach. The testing found that the water’s e.coliform count was well below the acceptable limit and Highland Lake Beach will be reopening.

We were made aware of this issue by our routine water testing and we will continue to monitor our public beaches on a regular basis till Labor Day to keep them safe for public use.

We will be opening Highland Lake Beach for swimming immediately.

Highland Lake Beach Closing

Highland Lake Beach Closing
Town of Bridgton
Tuesday, July 31st,

Testing performed on 7/30 has indicated an e.coliform count above the acceptable limit at Highland Lake Beach. We will be closing Highland Lake Beach immediately to swimming and will be moving the swimming lessons that are normally held at Highland Lake Beach to Salmon Point. Highland Lake Beach will remain open for picnicking and the boat launch will also stay open. The Town sent out samples to be tested today and will post the results of the testing once we receive them. An update will be posted on Facebook and our website by the end of the day tomorrow.

As of now, the cause of the high e.coliform count remains unknown but local fowl and low water levels may have played a role.

Woods Pond Beach Investigation Results

** MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT **

Woods Pond Investigation Results
Town of Bridgton
Monday, July 23,

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus was found in two human stool specimens submitted for testing which confirms that this was a Norovirus outbreak. As of 7/19/18, epidemiologists have identified 97 people who reported being ill and were associated with this outbreak.

The CDC’s epidemiological investigation found that people who put their heads under the water while swimming or swallowed water while swimming were at greater risk for infection. Of note, there were several people who were not at the beach who became ill after caring for someone who was ill.

According to the CDC,

Norovirus is very contagious and spreads easily from person to person. It is common in Maine and throughout the U.S.

  • Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping.  Symptoms generally start 24-48 hours after swallowing the virus, though it can appear earlier than that. Illness is usually not serious though people can feel very sick.  Most people get better within 1-2 days.
  • There is no treatment.  If you feel unwell, consulting with your medical provider is recommended.
  • You can decrease your chance of getting ill by washing your hands often with soap and water, carefully washing fruits and vegetables, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.”

A Norovirus Fact Sheet from the Maine CDC can be found at: https://bridgtonmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Norovirus_FS_2017.pdf

Woods Pond Beach Update

Woods Pond Beach Closure

We apologize for any confusion related to our original post. Here is the information available to us:

Late Friday afternoon, the Town of Bridgton received a phone call from the Center for Disease Control. The CDC reports that several people became ill with abdominal issues after swimming in Woods Pond between July 2 and July 6. The town closed the beach immediately.

The town is unable to sample the water and diagnose the cause until the testing facility reopens Monday morning, July 9. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information.

Until then, please do not use Woods Pond and instead visit Highland Lake Beach, Sabatis Island and Salmon Point.


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2019 Cruiser Bid Package–AWARDED

TOWN OF BRIDGTON

The Town of Bridgton sought proposals for the provision of one (1) 2019 Police Cruiser.

The receipt of bids was closed at 2:00p.m. on July 20th. There were no representatives present. Present representing the Town of Bridgton was Robert Peabody, Town Manager, Georgiann Fleck, Deputy Town Manager, Richard Stillman, Chief of Police, TJ Reese, Police Sergeant and Ashley Hutter, Public Safety Administrative Assistant. Chief Stillman opened up the bids received and read them aloud. To follow are the bids received and their amounts.

Casco Bay Ford

$32,686.00

Ripley & Fletcher

$34,562.37

Yankee Ford

$34,203.00

Macdonald Motors

$34,017.00

Quirk Ford

$32,337.00

Rowe Ford

$34,159.00

Following review of the bid(s) submitted, Richard Stillman, Chief of Police, will make a recommendation that the bid be awarded to Quick Ford.

Maine’s Hottest Towns of 2017

#2 BRIDGTON
Picturesque Bridgton is best known as a resort town in Maine’s Lakes Region. Located at the western end of Cumberland County, Bridgton is home to the renowned private prep school Bridgton Academy, Pondicherry Park and Shawnee Peak Ski Area. The town of 5,000 inhabitants saw a 14.29% increase in the number of homes sold from 2016 to 2017. Along with this increase, the average sale price rose from $166,750 to $176,750. Click here to view article.