The broken culvert on Highway 119 has caused untold hardship to those around the areas that are now six to seven feet of water above normal levels. In Littleton and Ayer, those residents on or near Spectacle Pond have evacuated homes, watched their life savings go under water, and seen so much damage. Areas are flooded that have always been dry.
In the middle of all of this disaster, residents have seen our Ayer Department of Public Works chief, Dan Nason, at every meeting with the Massachusetts Highway Department with regard to the culvert. Rick Linde, foreman of our Water Department, has been in the middle of all possible solutions. They are meeting on Saturdays, on Sundays, and seem to be on call 24/7. Our Ayer fire chief, Robert Pedrazzi, has been driving around the area talking to residents weekdays and weekends. The Fire and Water departments have worked with all of the residents to insure their safety, and with the state to work towards a solution to the broken culvert. Our selectmen have also stayed involved.
We’re especially grateful that Ayer officials have worked so closely with the Littleton town officials. Water and Fire officials have been in the area every day, all weekends, since the culvert fixes weren’t working on March 17. We are looking to our officials to insure that the final rebuilding of the culvert results in a bigger, stronger, more capable outlet, and we have confidence that our leaders will look out for the best interests of the town.
We are so fortunate in Ayer to have such dedicated officials. Our hats off to them.
BEVERLY SCHULTZ
Ayer
