Community input vital for county ARP projects

To the Editor;

In the interest of participatory democracy, the members of PROACT! are writing to urge the Piscataquis County Commissioners to convene public meetings or listening sessions to hear from local residents about their concerns and priorities for use of the anticipated $3.3 million in federal money coming to Piscataquis County from the American Rescue Plan.

We recognize that the commissioners have proactively enacted programs for emergency communication infrastructure and expansion of broadband in the region and we agree that these are high priorities. We also think it is the responsibility of the commission to consider and prioritize other important needs in the county for infrastructure planning, not only for this ARPA funding but for future possible state funds and perhaps for identifying future county revenue needs that might require grant funding. 

In the development of a strategic plan for infrastructure projects, we believe soliciting periodic community input is vital. This would help in developing a broader understanding of the need for resiliency planning for important issues, such as climate emergencies, protection of the safety of county water resources, or identifying populations who might be particularly vulnerable to infrastructure failures.

Public input could be requested in various ways, such as through surveys, social media, or by Zoom forums. While it is an investment of time on the part of the commissioners, each district commissioner could handle this in his own district. We think it would demonstrate the county commissioners’ commitment to the principles of representing all your constituents’ needs.      

Thank you for your attention to this important community action.

Piscataquis Regional Organization for Action members

Kent Black

Medford                                                         

Eric and Carole Boothroyd

Dover-Foxcroft                      

Laurie Davis

Greenville                                                     

Judy Dow

Sebec                                                 

Lesley Fernow

Dover-Foxcroft                                            

Jamie Gaudion

Dover-Foxcroft                                       

Carol S. Gorecki

Orneville Twp           

Susan Harvey

Dover-Foxcroft

Sue Mackey Andrews

Dover-Foxcroft

Patrick Myers

Sebec

Margaret Pinette

Milo

Hunt and Allison Smith

Dover-Foxcroft

Trisha Smith

Dover-Foxcroft

William Welsh

Sebec

Gloria Zela

Bowerbank