Roads Update

Our Road Agent, Scott Sanborn, gave us the report he's submitting to the Select Board for tonight's meeting:

Anyone who has recently driven Tuttle Hill Road knows that the paving has been completed. Blaktop did an excellent job. The new drainage pattern resulting from the regrading just above the Cross Road intersection looks to be working out as planned and will significantly reduce the amount of stormwater runoff into the wetland swale that runs next to the road out of the old fire pond.

We have weathered the recent heavy rains well, with a few very minor shoulder wash-outs (and some schedule delays) being the only problems experienced here in Orange.

Richard Remacle’s crew is in the process of working through repairing those areas along with a summer maintenance “punch-list”, some highlights of which are: 

• The last remaining FEMA project from tropical storm Irene, the culvert extension on Burnt Hill Road (still waiting for low-flow conditions, but have plenty of time under the extension to the deadline that was granted last fall).

• Adding hardpack to and grading the shoulders along the edges of the new pavement on Tuttle Hill & Cross Roads.

• Cleaning sediment out of the catch basins around the Tuttle Hill Road bridge over Orange Brook (Barry Clause of JBC Septic will be assisting with pumping)

• Raising the elevation of the section of Williams Road that washed out in Irene about a foot and adding some large ledge-stone to the edge to help stabilize it in the event of future high water (my intention is to raise this area a little more during each of the next 2-3 years).

• Embankment repairs on Cross Road and Burnt Hill Road

• Opening up a couple of buried/clogged culverts, and repair a couple of broken-down headwalls.

• Reclaiming the culvert that drains the low spot in the intersection of Burnt Hill and River Road and installing a small catch basin/drop inlet, regrading as necessary.

• Repairs to the upper portion of New Colony Road from Gunn’s driveway to Murray/Pedersen’s (with the intention of funding this project from left-over FEMA moneys)

Both the Jan-April plowing and the spring grading have come in a little under budget so we’re looking good to add a few extra summer projects!

Finally, I will be out of town from Thursday 7/25 through Sunday 8/4. Richard is aware of this and will be happy to take any calls (523-7512) in the event of any downed trees or heavy rain damage that may occur while I’m away.

Respectfully,

Scott Sanborn

Healthcare Proposal

Mike Sampson, the Canaan town administrator, has organized a group to foster a health-care plan for Mascoma Valley towns. His group is looking for two volunteers from Orange to serve on the steering committee. The next meeting is at 7 pm on August 20 in Canaan Hall, Canaan Speedway.

Mike writes that 105 Mascoma area residents have shown up for the two meetings held so far. For information, call 523-4501, extension 5.

Good Climbers

Sandi Pierson caught this bear family next door in Grafton. Thanks, Sandi!

Minutes from the June 25 Select Board

Sandi Pierson sent us the official, approved minutes. You'll find them here.

Powerline Herbicide Treatment

New Hampshire Electric Co-op and its contractor consultant, Vegetation Control Services, intend to selectively apply herbicides to undesirable vegetation growing within power line rights of way corridors in the town of Orange. The treatments will begin in early September. Maps showing the corridors are posted on the outside bulletin board of the Town House.

In accordance with State Regulations, it is the duty of each landowner or resident to make Vegetation Control Services aware of the location of potentially affected private water supplies and any other environmentally sensitive areas where herbicide application should be further restricted.

You can download a form telling of areas where herbicide use should be restricted. Just click here. Or call Brian Johnson at Vegetation Control Services during office hours: 731-9325.

Update on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 10:58AM by OrangeNH

In case the link to the exception form didn't go through, you can find it here.