A late response to icing Jan. 5 was poor judgment, Holbrook Excavating owner Evan Holbrook told Alna selectmen Feb. 2. “I can admit to that. I was expecting rain and icing to start a little later ... Again, I apologize.”

Residents had mixed comments on the Woolwich firm’s work since that storm. Dock Road’s Jeff Philbrick said he noticed a difference “in a positive direction” after Jan. 5. Dock Road has gotten heavy sanding, he said. 

Alna Fire Department President Beth Whitney said a snowbank was making it hard to turn left out of the fire station, and one near Alna General Store was “kind of far out in the street.” Jeff Spinney and Fire Chief Mike Trask said roads looked unplowed in the Jan. 29 storm. Spinney said he saw a plow truck once that day.

“If you hadn’t seen us, that was probably the truth,” because workers spent five hours fixing a chain on a sander, and a truck lost its engine, Holbrook said over Zoom. “They succeeded (with the chain and) things got under control, especially by later that evening. Probably everybody was in their homes by then, so it was probably unnoticed. But we did get on things,” he said. 

First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said the board will put plowing on its next agenda for “a little bit deeper” discussion.

Also Feb. 2, the board decided to put an 11-acre Bailey Road lot across from Pinkham Pond on the market and reserve the right to refuse all offers. And selectmen agreed to hire William Van Tuinen again to valuate Central Maine Power and Maine Electric Power Co. property. Spinney suggested selectmen cap the cost to pay Van Tuinen. The vote named no sum. Pentaleri did not yet have an estimate. He said Van Tuinen previously charged about $2,000.

Center for Teaching and Learning Head of School Katy Inman reported, 22 of its 67 students are from Alna. A survey Inman shared showed responding Alna families’ satisfaction with the K-8 school in Edgecomb, including its COVID-19 response.

Pentaleri announced the town’s food pantry received over $1,000 in gift card donations in December. “That really helped a lot of families in need.” And Wiscasset Family Health donated $250 Jan. 21, he said. “All of those donations are greatly appreciated.”