The Gardiner City Council on Wednesday will consider whether to share the cost of fixing a failing retaining wall on Brunswick Avenue, which is also Route 201.
At the meeting, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the City Council chamber at 6 Church St., councilors will also consider sharing the cost of road maintenance on Brunswick Avenue, up the hill from where it starts at Water Street to the Gardiner Common, with the Maine Department of Transportation.
The retaining wall, which is in the right of way of Route 201, is a granite block wall that sits adjacent to the sidewalk at 17 Brunswick Ave. The building on the property is a two-story former home that has been converted to professional offices. It sits on a small rise above street level.
Tony LaPlante, Gardiner’s director of the public works, said the retaining wall started to cave in during a rainstorm in October.
“We had a slippage of some granite,” he said.
LaPlante said the wall started to fail after a heavy rainfall. From the city’s point of view, he said, he would like to see it fixed sooner rather than later to avoid a complete failure. Ideally, he said, the wall would be fixed this year.
The cost to the city for both projects would be $175,000, which would be paid by issuing a bond to be paid back over three years at 3.25% interest.
Denise Brown, finance director for the city of Gardiner, said by the time the first $62,000 payment of the proposed bond would be due, city officials will have paid off another bond with an annual payment of $72,000.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Gardiner officials are also expected to:
• Hear a presentation on the city audit from Runyon Kersteen Oulette Certified Public Accountants and Business Consultants.
• Hear a presentation from Ingrid Stanchfield about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley.
• Hear a presentation from Hoyle, Tanner & Associates Inc. on the major equipment upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant
• Consider accepting criminal forfeiture funds from the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office.
• Discuss the city’s policy on surplus equipment.
• Consider approving a request from the Blind Pig to extend its outdoor use to include winter months.
• Consider approving a Community Enterprise Program letter of intent for a facade and streetscape grant.
• Consider naming a private road off Stonewall Lane. The proposed name: Camdens Lane.
• Consider making appointments of applicants to various city boards and commissions.
• Consider accepting the minutes of the Jan. 8 meeting.
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