Dear Editor:

Article #48 in the Edgecomb Town Warrant of FY2026 is a disaster for the Town of Edgecomb. This warrant calls for the extension of the Wiscasset Water District to include the entire Town of Edgecomb. If passed, that warrant would allow the Wiscasset Water District to “take, hold, divert, use and distribute water from any source” in the Town of Edgecomb. Furthermore, the legislation (P&SL 1983, c.82, LD2326) that created the water district allows them to take “lands, interests there in and water rights” by the exercise of “eminent domain.”

Additionally, if it were to take effect it would also allow the Wiscasset Water District to: 

1. “lay pipes, etc. through public ways and across private lands” and “excavate through any lands when necessary and convenient for its corporate purposes.” 

1. “erect and maintain dams, reservoirs, etc.” 

1. “receive government aid, to borrown money: to issue bonds and notes” … “without vote of the inhabitants.” 

1. set the rates to be paid for the supplied water 

1. reimburse the town of Wiscasset (not Edgecomb) for any of their expenses. 

Even more appalling is that all this power to take your land, take your water and incur debts without your permission would be granted to a board of trustees “4 (four) members who are legal voters of the Town of Wiscasset and one member who is a legal voter of the Town of Edgecomb!” [P&SL 2024, c.82, S.P. 897-LD2104]

The obvious questions are: 

1.  The residents of Edgecomb already voted “No” on this issue last year. Why did the Edgecomb Select Board even put this article on this year’s warrant?

1. In what way does the select board even think there is a benefit for Edgecomb residents from this article?  With only 1 in 5 votes, where is the protection for the rights of Edgcomb citizens? 

1. Did the Edgecomb select board even read the legislation that governs this water district?

Kathryn Rohr MD

Edgecomb