According to Damariscotta cemetery trustee Patti Whitten, a “reliable” estimate to repair a stone arch at the entrance to Walpole cemetery totals $24,000.
The sum is nearly as much as the town’s entire 2011-2012 budget request ($27,209) for cemetery maintenance.
The repair will soon be necessary to prevent the structure from falling into Bristol Road, Whitten said.
The arch’s proximity to the road and the resulting need for a Central Maine Power crew and a police detail for traffic control contribute to the high cost of the project, Whitten said. A contractor will also need “heavy equipment” in order to perform the task.
Damariscotta Town Manager Greg Zinser said the town might elect to temporarily remove the arch pending repair.
