Sept. 26, Boothbay Harbor Sewer District (BHSD) trustees reviewed a draft “Memorandum of Understanding” between themselves and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) for a sewer line extension from Townsend Avenue to Knickerbocker Road along Barters Island in Boothbay. CMBG was previously on its own sewer system.  

According to the meeting’s draft memo, the line will also provide waste removal for Boothbay Region YMCA’s (BRYMCA) Workforce Development, Camp Knickerbocker and Afterschool Education program.  

The memo specified that CMBG and BRYMCA will raise the funds for the project and pay for all activities, including design, permitting, staff management and construction. The design will adhere to BHSD standards. Upon completion, BHSD will own the line and be responsible for its maintenance.  

“There’s really no downside to us, other than taking on new flow,” said operator-in-charge Chris Higgins. He doesn't foresee any issues.

Higgins believes the project will be finished around 2027. This is also his estimation of when Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) will finish its filter waste recycling project and lessen its contribution to BHSD. However, Higgins said the district would be able to handle the flow, even if BRWD wasn’t withdrawing.  

In other business, BHSD is working with Maine Municipal Association on compensation for the garage damaged during a Feb. 10 fire. The district would be able to get a higher return if it were to rebuild the new garage in its old location, but doing so would interfere with its phase 1 construction projects. Instead, trustees discussed taking a lower estimate and putting it in a dedicated account for future use.

Central Maine Power (CMP) approved BHSD's use of its company pole to connect to a new control panel on Roads End. The district is still determining whether the neighboring property owned by David Bean or Bruce Engert would be best for the panel to be placed on.   

The district will hold its budget/rates public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.