SACO — Voters approved three bonds totaling $11.75 million. 

Residents approved 2,680-2,506 to approve the city borrow $7.25 million for a new public works building.

City officials say the public works building, located at 351 North St., has many deficiencies.

Staff offices are on the second floor and not ADA accessible, bathroom facilities are inadequate for the number of people working in the building and there are no showers. Garage doors are barely wide enough to accommodate some of the city’s vehicles. Vehicles, when lifted, are dangerously close to gas lines and heating systems, which must be turned off before trucks are put on the lift to avoid damage.

The building also needs electrical upgrades and a sprinkler system, say city officials. 

The $7.25 million price tag is lower than past estimates for a new public works building, and the proposed building is modeled after Westbrook’s public works building, which city officials say is a very practical building. 

The city plans to to build the new building at a different location and sell the 351 North St. property, which has highway frontage and is thought to be a desirable piece of real estate.

Residents voted 3,666 to 1,556 to approve a $2 million bond for work on a number of municipal projects including improvements to the Ocean Park Road drainage system, the Police Station roof, the City Hall and Parks and Recreation facility HVAC systems, the Saco Middle School baseball field, the Foss Road recreation site, Lincoln Street reconstruction and Camp Ellis erosion protection.

Residents voted 3,190 to 2,014 to allow the city to borrow up to $2.5 million for U.S. Route One sewer extension and sidewalk, pedestrian and traffic signal improvements.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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