WINDSOR — It’s not easy finding a home for a paving plant.

RC & Sons Paving moved one from a gravel pit in northwest Augusta after the city changed zoning in that area, forcing the plant to leave when its operating license expired.

Now the company expects to open in a couple of weeks in Windsor on leased land in a pit that fronts both routes 105 and 32.

Surrounding landowners there are already concerned, but there are no town rules preventing the plant from launching its operations, expected sometime in the comings weeks.

Bruce Verfaillie, one of those neighbors, said he has approached town officials and state regulators about the plant.

He said he and other residents intend to speak at Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Town Office.

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“My concern is the smell, possibly the smoke and mostly the underhandedness of this,” Verfaillie said. “I went door to door after seeing the article in the Sunday paper, and 90 percent or more didn’t know anything about this.”

Verfaillie said the plant is about 80 feet below his land, hidden by some trees.

He said he wants to delay the plant’s operation until more research can be done. Verfaillie also said he’s concerned that the plant’s operation could affect property values and people’s health.

“Like I told them at the Town Office, they’re not setting up a lemonade stand; it’s a factory that’s producing a petroleum product,” Verfaillie said.

Verfaillie, who is retired from the Coast Guard, where he did environmental oil spill response work, has lived in Windsor for seven years.

Mike Cloutier, one of the owners of RC & Sons Paving, which is based in Lewiston, said the company has been upfront about its move to Windsor. He and the landowner attended a Planning Board meeting months ago and Cloutier followed that up by attending a selectmen’s meeting.

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“The reason why we approached the town was to find out what was the procedure to go into the town of Windsor and also see whether they have an appetite for business, whether they are a business-friendly town,” Cloutier said. He said the firm is family-owned and -operated and wants to avoid problems.

“I don’t see why we can’t live side by side. We followed the proper procedures and didn’t hide anything,” Cloutier said.

Windsor has no rules against a paving plant as long as it meets state requirements, according to Town Manager Theresa Haskell.

Minutes from the Jan. 31 selectmen’s meeting reflect negotiations between selectmen and Cloutier in terms of hours and days of operation. Trucks will haul asphalt between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., five days a week, and truckers will be asked to avoid using jake-brakes going in and out of the pit.

“We’re a legitimate business that follows strict guidelines of the (Department of Environmental Protection) and have a good record with the DEP,” Cloutier said. “We’re good neighbors and work hard to be good neighbors and try hard to do the right thing.”

The company has a plant in Auburn that has been in operation since 2003. The Windsor plant is relatively small in comparison to other asphalt plants, Cloutier said. He expects to begin operations there May 1, weather permitting.

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The company supplies asphalt to local jobs, including the hospital under construction in north Augusta and area projects by the state Department of Transportation.

Cloutier said the company bids on municipal paving jobs as well. He said the plant would employ 20 people, and have 10-15 owner-operator trucks hauling the asphalt.

“My brother and I are the type of people who try to be proactive and just meet the people and show them that we’re not some big conglomerate that pushes our weight around,” he said. “We’re just two ordinary people trying to make a living.”

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

 


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