Heave ho

What it means: Warmer roads mean frost heaves and potholes, especially on Lewiston’s more rural routes. Heavy trucks are banned on 13 roads from now until the weather is more consistently warm.

What happened: Each spring the city puts out a list of roads where private heavy trucks — weighing more than 23,000 pounds per vehicle — are banned. These are roads prone to freezing, thawing, and the inevitable pothole-producing frost heaves. Heavy trucks can crush those heaves, making the road fall apart more quickly.

The ban is in place for parts of Grove Street and parts of Ferry, River, Dyer, Pinewoods, Gayton, Webster, Merrill, Sleeper, Randall, Old Greene, No Name Pond and Pond roads.

What’s next: Expect to see the roads reopen to heavier vehicles early in May or  as soon as the roads stop freezing overnight.

Sushi and drinks

What it means: Good news if you like a little music with your sake and your sushi, because councilors approved Sea Asian Bistro’s special amusement permit for another year.

What happened: City councilors approve liquor licenses and special amusement permits for bars and restaurants. While liquor licenses do not expire unless the business closes or changes hands, special amusement permits must be renewed by councilors each year. The bistro’s permits allows on-site entertainment, including music from a DJ or a live band, but not dancing.

Where the Greens caucus

What it means: Lewiston members of the Maine Green Independent Party should make sure they can find Lewiston City Hall on Sunday March 13. That’s where about 15 members of the party will caucus from 2-4 p.m.

What happened: While one group of the party will caucus at 5 p.m. Friday, March 4, in Auburn, a group of 15 Lewiston residents asked the city for permission to use a City Hall conference room for their meeting. They’ll select their local slate of candidates and their pick as the party’s presidential nominee.

From past due to paid in full

What it means: Three property owners can breathe a bit easier now that the city has recognized their property tax or utility fee accounts as current and paid in full.

What happened: In situations where taxes or fees are not paid, the city can put liens on properties  and even take a property after 18 months if the accounts are not settled. That won’t be a problem for the owners of 33 Avon St., 21 Howard St., and 590 Webster St. Councilors recognized that all three properties are now paid in full and issued quitclaim deeds to cancel their liens.

What’s Next: The second half of property taxes for the 2015-16 fiscal year are due March 15.

Summertime

What it means: Councilors are looking forward to their summer schedule, with one meeting per month from July to August.

What happened: Councilors can sit for meetings several times each week during the spring budget discussions, so they usually ease up a bit in the summer, scheduling one meeting per month in July and August. Setting those dates now lets councilors plan their family summer vacations.

What’s next: Councilors will meet July 19 and Aug. 9.

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