A survey has given Alna selectmen all they needed to know to forego any town vote on a switch from Wiscasset Transfer Station. In results Third Selectman Coreysha Stone reviewed with the board Jan. 2, most respondents wanted to keep taking their trash to Wiscasset for about $120,000 a year even if other options cost way less. 

That survey question read in part, "Our trash contract is three times more expensive than waste management programs used by neighboring towns (Dresden and Whitefield). Knowing that the town is overpaying for this service, are you still willing to pay more for the current service at WTS?" Yes, said 62.3% of the 77 people who answered.

"Sixty-something percent want to stay with what we're doing, I don't think it's worth us taking it to the town meeting at this time," Stone said. First Selectman Nick Johnston and Second Selectman Steve Graham concurred. 

Stone late last year researched options and took issue with the funding formula for the station Wiscasset owns and it, Westport Island and Alna use. The Alna board did the survey to gauge residents' appetite for considering a change. And as some past Alna selectboards have found when members have looked to save on trash costs, the public largely favored continuing to use the station.

"I'm not super surprised," Johnston told Stone when she asked her fellow board menbers their thoughts on the results.

Graham noted respondents on one question showed interest in exploring options, but "everything else" suggested otherwise. He thanked Stone and said it was good information to have. 

In other survey results, among 89 who answered, 92.1% take their trash to the station, 7.9% use a private company; and, of 87 respondents, 94% said neither a transportation nor a mobility issue impacts their ability to access the station. 

Stone still wants to pursue getting Alna what she considers a fairer deal on the yearly contracts with Wiscasset. She said she has asked for Wiscàsset's budget workshop schedule.

She was unsure Wiscasset would change how it charges. "The power is very much held by that entity," she said. "That's really unfortunate for us ... My hope is that they will hear this (and) that we can still continue to advocate for our town ..."

Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons has said Alna has been told budget time is when to ask Wiscasset to consider a change, and that the selectboard could decide then whether to entertain it.

In the Jan. 2 meeting, a "working" meeting where no public comment is taken, Johnston said: "It is worth getting in on the conversation with Wiscasset. If we can get them to budge on the number, why not?"

Also Jan. 2, selectmen announced the hire of a past Alna town clerk, Lisa Arsenault, as deputy town clerk; and the board planned to seek suggestions for the next Spirit of America community service award. A Jan. 3 town email said to reply by May 30 "with a short message (on) who you'd like to be honored and why."