York’s scaled-back Route 1 sewer project to go to voters

YORK, Maine – A major sewer extension project on Route 1 will be presented to the voters at the May referendum, though on a smaller scale than planned.

The $11.5 million sewer extension from Spur Road to Old Post Road has been scaled back to one costing $3.8 million, extending only to the area of Anthony’s Food Shop. A missed grant opportunity and planning around future road projects led town officials to scale back the project.

The segment of the project kept in place is considered critical to the Little River, which flows to York’s beaches. Flooding has caused septic systems to fail in the Donica Road section of town recently, and hooking up to the sewer would keep septic runoff out of the river.

“What they’ve decided to do is solve that problem first,” Town Manager Peter Joseph said.

The rest of the project will be completed in the future, when road work takes place in the Old Post Road section of town.

Residents who will be hooked up to the system on Donica Road said they hope the project gains voter approval so they can get off their septic systems.

Brian Day, who lives on the street, described flood waters ruining his leach field and causing sewage water to run across his lawn.

“I want to be able to use my backyard,” Day said. “Right now, I can’t.”

Funding falls through

Town officials announced the original $11.5 million project to extend the sewer on Route 1 last year. They said the project would allow for more development opportunities and business growth along the Route 1 corridor.

The original project would have been funded by several sources, including $5 million from voters. The York Sewer District trustees also voted to pursue a $2.5 million bond towards the project, while the Selectboard would pursue grants and use $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Joseph told the Selectboard last week, however, that the town “didn’t come close” to qualifying for the Economic Development Administration’s $2.5 million grant. York Sewer District Superintendent Phil Tucker, who has been closely involved in the project, said that was because York was too “affluent” to qualify.

“It was hard for them to get this grant,” Tucker said. “There were a lot of parameters that they couldn’t meet, which, it’s a tough situation.”

Members of the town’s Route 1 Sewer Extension Advisory Committee examined their options for continuing the project this year without the grant. They decided to complete just enough sewer to address the environmental issues with the Little River.

“(The plan) doesn’t do the full project, but it also doesn’t limit us from doing the full project in the future,” Joseph said.

The project is still funded through multiple sources. The $1.5 million from the town is to match money congressionally earmarked by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, according to Joseph. Joseph said the sewer district is putting forth $600,000 from sewer assessments resulting from the extension.

Selectboard members still need to decide if they will ask voters to approve the $1.5 million match through a bond or the general fund. Both would require voter approval.

Joseph told the Selectboard that using the general fund would allow the town to save money if the project costs less than $3.8 million. A bond, on the other hand, would commit them to borrowing the full $1.5 million, he said.