BATH — Voters on Tuesday approved a $2.5 million road reconstruction bond, and re-elected three city councilors in uncontested races.

Councilor Mari Eosco of Washington Street was elected again in Ward 5 with 220 votes. Councilor Leverett “Tink” Mitchell of Old Brunswick Road was re-elected in Ward 7 with 249 votes, and Steve Brackett of Middle Street was elected an at-large councilor with 1,224 votes.

The bond, approved 1,208 to 328, is aimed at helping the city catch up on road reconstruction.

Public Works Director Peter Owen said Wednesday that he was “ecstatic” that the bond passed, noting that “we had started some initial planning, but now we’ll be able to fire up the launch pad and get started with all the things we hope to do with that bond.”

He said last month that the city has been getting increasingly behind each year in keeping up with maintaining its streets.

“And that has to do with the struggle for budgets, normally, and not getting enough money for paving,” Owen explained at the time. “So even though we’re paving streets, our streets are getting further and further behind, and it gets more expensive, the longer you leave a street.”

Streets addressed more frequently could be repaired with an overlay, but after 10-15 years a street must be ground or reconstructed, and then paved, Owen said. And Bath has a growing number of streets reaching that level.

With the proposed bond, he said, “the effort is to try to catch up to the numerous streets that are reaching that critical stage of really falling apart and requiring much more extensive investment.”

High Street from Leeman Highway to West Bath, a stretch of a little more than street miles, will be addressed, as will streets in north Bath, including Ridge and Whiskeag roads. The city also plans to pave the entire downtown, and money could also be used to apply for more grants.

City Council

Eosco has served more than seven years on the council.

She spent four years as director of Main Street Bath, along with time on the boards of the Chocolate Church Arts Center, Skate Park and Main Street Bath, and on the Parking Committee. She has also been a corporator of Bath Savings Institution.

Mitchell served on the City Council from 2002-2005 before being elected again last year to complete the term of the late Councilor Ruthe Pagurko.

He retired in 2002 after 27 years with the Fire Department, where he spent the last four years as chief. He has also served on the Main Street Bath board and on a downtown parking committee.

Brackett has co-owned Brackett’s Market at 185 Front St. with his wife, Kimberly, for 17 years. The Georgia native is completing his first term on the City Council.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

Sidebar Elements

---

Steve Brackett

Mari Eosco

Leverett Mitchell