A Maine Department of Transportation traffic study of Eddy Road in Edgecomb has yielded two potential options for improving safety. One is the town assuming total responsibility of the road. This would allow Edgecomb to prohibit large commercial vehicles from using the road which connects U.S. Route 1 to state Route 27. The second option is a municipal and state partnership, which would make Eddy Road safer by smoothing out a large curve.

Selectmen favor option two. The board met with MDOT officials Sept. 25, discussing possible fixes to Eddy Road, which has drawn complaints about traffic safety for years. The most recent complaint occurred two months ago. West Boothbay Harbor resident Maggie Connelly complained that while driving her car in August, she was nearly hit by a large tractor trailer traveling at high speeds.

This began Edgecomb’s latest discussion with the MDOT about improving the road’s safety. The road is a state aid minor collector, which means road maintenance is performed by MDOT and winter plowing by the town. Selectmen told MDOT engineer Gerry Audibert and MDOT Region 2 Supervisor Kyle Hall the board wasn’t interested in option one, but was interested in exploring the possibility of fixing the road. Audibert provided information about a state program which would finance the project. The “Municipal Partnership Initiative” finances joint MDOT and municipal programs. Each party would provide half of the finances and the town would serve as the project manager.

The two parties would need to purchase property from an Eddy Road landowner where the sharp curve exists. Audibert told selectmen, to make repairs and to remove the curve’s ledge would require purchasing the property. Selectmen requested Audibert provide further information including estimated costs in two weeks.

In other action, selectmen accepted the high bid for a U.S. Route 1 foreclosed property. The board accepted Jeff Hoings’ bid of $15,100. The only other bid was by abutter Ann Harford who bid $15,000. The selectmen adopted unofficial guidelines earlier in the year for disposing of tax-acquired property. In May, residents authorized selectmen to dispose of foreclosed property in the best interests of the town. Selectmen had four tax acquired properties this year. The guidelines began with offering the property back to the previous owner for back taxes and legal costs. The next step is contacting abutters to see if they are interested in purchasing it. If more than one abutter has interest, the selectmen request a sealed bid.

Hoings owns property near the property he bid on, but is not technically an abutter. “The proximity and uniqueness of the situation allows us to decide how the property is disposed. His property is only about 50 feet from the border,” said Selectman Mike Smith.

The board also discussed waiving interest accrued on a delinquent property tax bill. Earlier in the year, town officials discovered Ben Stover hadn’t been billed for taxes in 2014, 2015, or 2016. This year, he was sent a bill and charged $84 in interest. Stover has requested the town waive interest charges. The board will check with Treasurer Claudia Coffin to see if waiving accrued interest is allowed.

Fire Chief Roy Potter invited selectmen and the public to the department’s annual open house at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5. At 6:30 p.m., the department will hold a ceremony with a plaque dedication to the department.

The selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 in the municipal building.