TURNER — Selectmen on Tuesday directed Public Works Director Jack Moultrie to post a new sign by the courtesy sand bin stating residents are restricted to two five-gallon buckets of sand per day when the Transfer Station is open.

They also restated their intention to prosecute anyone who violates the “No Trespassing” sign at the town sand and gravel pit.

The decisions came after reports of people driving past the “No Admittance” sign on the gate to take material from the pit. Others reportedly have been belligerent and ignored town workers’ efforts to restrict how much sand they take from the courtesy bin at the Transfer Station.

Selectman Kurt Youland said the town furnishes limited quantities of sand to residents as a courtesy, and if it is abused it can be stopped.

“Theft is theft,” Selectman Dennis Richardson said.

Selectmen said town employees should record the license plate number of anyone taking more than the allotted quantity of sand. They instructed Town Manager Scott LaFlamme to follow through on such cases.

Selectman Ralph Caldwell said that 35 years ago the town would deliver a load of sand to anyone with a long driveway or a commercial parking lot, but those days are long over.

Public Works Director Moultrie said he nearly crushed an automobile that had stopped behind the big front-end loader he was driving. He said trespassing in the pit is a safety and insurance concern, as well as a theft problem.

Caldwell, who runs a large farm in town, said people who need more than the allotted two buckets of sand should contact local contractors who supply and deliver it. He said he buys sand for roads on his farm. He suggested a list be made of local contractors who furnish sand.

Moultrie said $156,000 of the $271,000 winter road budget has been spent and it’s likely the budget for salt will be exceeded.

Selectmen advised that Moultrie has the authority to move money around within his budget, if needed.

Caldwell said he didn’t want to see the Public Works budget exceeded again this year, as it has been for the past few years.

Moultrie told the board he is working hard to keep within his budget and expects to do so if the weather cooperates.

Richardson said one bad storm requiring lots of overtime could put it over.

Moultrie advised that the 10-below-zero temperatures recently caused the town’s fuel pump not to work. Town vehicles had to go to commercial gas stations to obtain fuel, he said.

Caldwell said the problem was a change in federal regulations that prevented the use of effective additives to fuel.

Youland showed the other selectmen a picture of a fuel antifreeze additive that was advertised to be effective at 50 degrees below zero. The container had frozen solid at an appreciably higher temperature.

Caldwell reported on damage to the Levitt Institute Building from a frozen sprinkler pipe. Damage was estimated at $6,000. He said the sprinkler repairman said it was the 62nd call that Sunday.

There will be a public hearing on revisions to the Zoning Ordinance at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Town Office.

Selectmen rejected a request to let ATV riders use Back Cove Drive, because it would be disruptive to nearby school activities and disturb residents on the road.

LaFlamme reminded selectmen there have been instances where ATVs damaged the playing fields in that area.