By Melanie Price

LEWISTON -- With several Boy Scouts sitting front row center, Tuesday night's public hearing on an excavation ordinance really proved that the scouting program gives all the tools for being prepared.

These 11- and 12-year-old boys learned about the newest changes to an existing ordinance and also got the opportunity to see their city representatives in action.

"One of the purposes of the ordinance is to protect the citizens of Lewiston from someone coming in and digging a big hole in the ground," said Bruce Karren, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board.

"I'm a firm believer that when you come in somewhere, you leave it better than when you found it," Karren said.

The ordinance states, "The Lewiston City Council has determined there is a need to adopt an Excavation Ordinance in order to, among other things, establish reasonable and uniform limitations, safeguards and controls on excavation within the City."

The purpose of Tuesday's meeting was to make two minor changes to the ordinance said Mayor Paul Dent. The first is requiring a conditional permit to be purchased when putting a topsoil pile on any property. The modification also stipulates that the pile may only remain for one year from the date of permit purchase.

The second proposed change was to remove an existing requirement to wash any excavating truck tires before entering the roadway. However, the councilmen found this requirement to be unrealistic.

"Just put it that they don't leave a mess when they leave town," Councilman Brooks Tarbet suggested.

The ordinance changes passed unanimously while the scouts' opinions of the meeting were mixed.

"Well, it wasn't bad," said Jorden Gardner. "But, I think I'm gonna stay out of government."

Fellow scout Tony Fife had a different take on the meeting, calling it "numb bum syndrome."

"We're here for the merit badges," said Jesse Pitcher, the troop president. "This one is for Citizenship in the Community."

The scouts said they like campouts better.

"I think all the activities give you some kind of knowledge, though," Pitcher said.

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