In 2024, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, L.D. 2104, An Act to Amend the Charter of the Wiscasset Water District. The bill did several important things, which were:

1. It includes the Town of Edgecomb in the Wiscasset Water District subject to a referendum vote in the Town of Wiscasset and the Town of Edgecomb.

2. It amends the provisions of the charter governing the board of trustees of the district to include a trustee who is a legal voter of the Town of Edgecomb.

For the purposes of the future municipal vote, these points are the most critical. This legislation authorizes, after a town vote, the ability to serve the whole town of Edgecomb. It is important to understand that this simply gives them the ability to serve Edgecomb. It does not force service installation, mandate action, or force residents to connect to a hypothetical water line. It is also important to note that there is NO proximity to serve fee if a water line is constructed.

It also allocates one seat on the Wiscasset Water District’s Board of Trustees to a resident. This gives residents of Edgecomb a seat at the table and a genuine voice in the utility. Currently, the Wiscasset Water District serves parts of Edgecomb but they do not have a designated representative on the Board of Trustees.

This legislation was proposed and passed to give residents in the area options. It is important to note that there are NO PLANS currently to expand infrastructure in Edgecomb. This simply allows the water district to expand service should residents in Edgecomb ask for it. If passed at town meeting, this bill will change nothing, except give Edgecomb a voting member on the Wiscasset Water District Board of Trustees.

This legislation is a good thing to have in place for the future as it gives communities the most choices and options in the years to come.