AUGUSTA – State Representative Daniel Newman (R-Belgrade) is pleased to announce that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Work Plan for Calendar Years 2021, 2022 and 2023 is available. The estimated value of work in the plan totals more than 2,180 individual work items with a total value of $2.71 billion.
The MDOT Work Plan for House District 76 includes projects totaling $4,510,000 for towns of Belgrade, Fayette, Mount Vernon, Rome, Vienna and Wayne.
The work includes $2 million for Well claims
in Belgrade, $2 million for the Castle Island Road in Rome, improvements to Route 8 in Belgrade, Route 17 in Fayette, Route 41 in Mount Vernon and other state roads in the area.“MDOT Work Plan projects will benefit our local communities in many ways,” said Rep. Newman. “I am pleased to see several MDOT projects scheduled for the next three years in our area. They will make our roads safer and support our local economy.”
The full work plan, searchable by municipality, is available at the Maine Department of Transportation’s website: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/workplan/search/ .
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Changes to Health and Safety Protocols
The latest plan from the Governor targets March 26 to resume indoor service at bars, distilleries, and tasting rooms.
• Effective March 26: The capacity limit for indoor gatherings will increase to 50 percent, and outdoor gatherings to 75 percent.
• Effective May 24: The capacity limit for indoor gatherings will increase to 75 percent, and outdoor gatherings to 100 percent.
To protect public health, if the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determines hospital capacity is at risk or if a new COVID-19 variant poses a significant risk in Maine, these capacity limits can be dialed down.
Note: Businesses with more capacity under the current limits -- 50 people for indoor gatherings, 100 people for outdoor gatherings, or 5 people per 1,000 square feet -- are permitted to maintain that standard until May 24.
Update to Travel Policies Established Last Summer
• Effective March 5: Travel from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement, joining Vermont and New Hampshire. People who have either had COVID-19 in the previous 90 days or are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of state of origin, are now exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement. Federal requirements related to international travel, however, remain in effect.
• Effective May 1: Shift Maine’s COVID-19 travel policy to automatically exempt all states, unless otherwise determined by the Maine CDC. If one or more states see a spike in cases of highly contagious COVID-19 variants, Maine will apply its test or quarantine requirement to travelers to and from that state.
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Extends CARES Act Reimbursement Program for Food Banks and Pantries
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) recently announced the extension of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) Food Security Network Reimbursement Program. The Program's second phase includes an expanded period for eligible expenses, allowing for reimbursement of costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021. The CRF Food Security Network Reimbursement Program Phase 2 funding became available upon opening the application process on March 2, 2021.
The Program, which is again being administered by Catholic Charities Maine on behalf of DACF, offers up to $10,000 in reimbursements to food banks and pantries that have accrued unanticipated expenses while working to overcome food supply and distribution challenges caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funding will help Maine food security organizations address supply chain disruptions, food storage, distribution infrastructure limitations, and public health and safety challenges all in direct response to the pandemic.
Complete CARES Act Food Security Network Reimbursement Program (CFDA# 21.019) information is available on Catholics Charities Maine Web page at https://www.ccmaine.org/dacf.
Phase 1 applicants who received funding may be eligible to submit an amended application for new/additional expenses incurred during the expanded timeframe if previous reimbursements received totaled less than the $10,000 cap.
This funding can be used to reimburse equipment purchases, capital projects/improvements, and other eligible costs incurred between March 1, 2020, and April 1, 2021.
The application deadline is April 16, 2021, and funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants.
Maine River Flow Advisory Commission 2021 Annual Meeting Discusses Ice Conditions, Flood Risk, and Drought Conditions
The State's River Flow Advisory Commission recently met virtually to discuss ice conditions, flood risk, and drought conditions across the State.
Experts say there is currently low to below normal stream flow. Without a spring recharge, dry conditions may be expected from late spring into summer. Snow-pack conditions are normal to below normal, and there is a below normal risk for river flooding. The National Weather Service reports the 6 to 10-day forecast indicates a warm-up this week with little precipitation, so current conditions will not change much.
The U.S. Coast Guard noted it has been a light ice season. Thus far, they have dedicated 180 hours of ice breaking along the Penobscot River, in Bangor. Another ice breaking mission is planned by the U.S. Coast Guard from March 22 - 25.
Maine's River Flow Advisory Commission consists of members from the U.S. Geological Survey; Department of Environmental Protection; National Weather Service, in Gray and Caribou; U.S. Coast Guard, University of Maine, Maine Emergency Management Agency, and National Flood Insurance Program.
The River Flow Advisory Commission is not expected to meet again unless conditions warrant. The report will be available online at www.maine.gov/mema or can be obtained from MEMA by calling 207-624-4400.
Do You Have Unclaimed Property?
Visit www.maineunclaimedproperty.gov to search for your name, business, friends, and family. Tens of millions of dollars go unclaimed by Maine residents every year. These financial assets are turned over by thousands of national and local businesses and organizations. The Office of the Maine State Treasurer holds these assets, free of charge, until claimed by the owner or heir.
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