The firm helping Wiscasset think on where a new sewer plant could go has some initial thoughts on a couple more sites and how they compare to ones already eyed. Documents that detail those thoughts were released July 25 in connection with selectmen’s July 30 meeting; the documents also reveal why one site was eyed two years ago and why it is no longer an option. 

That is land near Wiscasset Elementary School on Federal Street. Maine Department of Environmental Protection suggested it “based upon their believe that there were plans to close the school,” William Olver, president of Winterport-based environmental engineering firm Olver Associates wrote to Town Manager Dennis Simmons. “This does not seem to be the case and, in subsequent discussions, the possibility exists that this location could be controversial given the historical nature of that area.”

The selectboard had taken no proposal to voters, nor considered it, to close the school; however, in 2021, voters approved a committee to look at Wiscasset schools’ future. That committee continues its work.  

Recapping other potential sites eyed, Olver noted two issues with Mason Station: “Conflicting future development plans for that area and the need for major sewer system reconfiguration ... to reach that site.”

A plant would fit on the site of the town’s public works building, but would displace that building and the salt shed, and would put the new plant about twice as far from the current one as the Federal Street site would have been, Olver noted. 

The letter stated, to avoid disrupting the public works facilities, Simmons asked the firm to look at other sites including Morris Farm on Gardiner Road and a Churchill Street property.

Simmons’ manager’s report to the board for the July 30 meeting explained, “I asked Bill to do this to demonstrate how much more expensive it would be the further away from the current plant we go.” 

The results? Including pump stations, land buys and other costs, the firm estimated a plant at Morris Farm would cost $55.64 million; at the Churchill Street site, $51.925 million; the public works site, $51.15 million; and land off Federal Street, $46 million. 

“Due to likely resistance to build the plant on Federal Street, this may not be a practical alternative,” Olver wrote. As for Churchill Street versus the public works site, he said, since these estimates are “very preliminary and conceptual,” the two are likely statistically equal.

“If the Churchill site can be acquired by the Town, it may be the better option as it offers a larger, less constrained site than the Public Works lot,” Olver wrote. 

Responding to email questions Friday from Wiscasset Newspaper, Simmons said the Churchill Street property, which has a long vacant home, is a good location, but the owner is not interested in selling. Maine Farmland Trust is working to buy Morris Farm. Based on Olver’s statements about the Churchill Street one, does Simmons want to look further into that one as a potential site? “If Olver feels it is a strong option,” Simmons said.