CHINA -- Selectmen have scheduled two public hearings before Monday's meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office.

The first hearing will give residents a chance to comment on three ordinances that will be on a Nov. 3 local ballot: a new ordinance prohibiting obscenity, amendments to the shoreland zoning ordinance and amendments to the floodplain management ordinance.

At 6:55 p.m., selectmen will open a second hearing on amendments to the General Assistance ordinance, the annual review of proposed changes in maximum allowances.

The selectmen's meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Business items include discussion of a mutual aid agreement involving the Weeks Mills Fire Department; a progress report on efforts to obtain a grant to help restore the Weeks Mills one-room schoolhouse; discussion of whether selectmen want to take a position on the statewide referendum questions on excise taxes and a tax cap; additional information on the Ryan's Lane bridge replacement project; adoption of General Assistance ordinance changes; and appointment of Milton Dudley to the comprehensive plan implementation committee.

The Town Office and transfer station will be closed Monday.

Aqua Maine to replace pipe

SKOWHEGAN -- Aqua Maine will soon begin construction on Madison Avenue in its Skowhegan Division to replace 1,200 feet of 80-year-old cast-iron main from Pleasant Street to Spring Street, including some additional sections north of Spring Street.

The Company, using contractor T.W. Clark, is replacing the 6-inch cast iron main with 12-inch ductile iron main. The new pipe will allow four times the carrying capacity of the older main and will increase service reliability and improve water flow for firefighting. The old main has had a history of breaks that makes it a high priority for replacement.

"This main replacement is a good example of our systematic approach to upgrading the infrastructure of our water systems," said Rick Knowlton, vice president of operations. "With nearly 33 miles of water main in the ground in our Skowhegan division, our plan is to replace at least one percent of the distribution system annually." With this project, Aqua will have replaced and added more than 6,000 feet of water main in its Skowhegan Division since 2005, or over 3 percent.

The project will cost approximately $260,000, and is being funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act "economic stimulus" money, with 30 percent as a grant and the balance at zero-percent interest over 20 years. The impact of this financing will flow directly to the customers by lowering the debt-service costs that would normally be associated with such a project.

The Skowhegan Division of Aqua Maine serves about 2,400 customers in the town of Skowhegan and is one of 20 Maine water systems owned or operated by Aqua Maine.

China planners

meet Tuesday

CHINA -- Wachusetts Properties' proposed 13-lot subdivision off Lakeview Drive is the only application on the agenda for Tuesday's Planning Board meeting.

Planners reviewed plans for the subdivision at several previous meetings. On April 28, they walked the property and held a public hearing. Neighbors expressed concern that development of the tract on the east side of Lakeview Drive will increase runoff onto neighboring properties.

The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Town Office.