On November 8, I encourage residents of Hope (and our Midcoast neighbors Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville) to join the Hope Selectmen in voting Yes on local ballot Question One which will allow the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Corporation to enter into a three-year contract with two – one-year extensions with ecomaine. 

A yes vote on November 8 will result in several important benchmarks for our communities.

1. A yes vote will secure the lowest cost for the disposal of our solid waste (out of 11 options) for up to five years beginning in April 2018,

2. A yes vote will allow us to partner with ecomaine, a municipally owned facility dedicated to a strong ethic of responsible waste management decisions,

3. A yes vote will allow our four communities to reenergize our recycling efforts to substantially reduce the 6500 tons of solid waste that we currently produce,

4. And perhaps most importantly, a yes vote, will keep our four communities (Hope, Lincolnville, Camden and Rockport) together and working cooperatively to find the best solutions to our solid waste – now – and for years to come.

Thank you for turning out to vote and please consider a yes vote on Local Ballot Question one.

Tom Ford lives in Hope and is vice chairman of the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Board of Directors