By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — A land purchase approved by Naples voters at Town Meeting was held up by the pen.

The governor’s signature was all that was needed to finalize the real estate deal.

Sometime around Labor Day, Governor Paul Le Page— as required by law — signed the paperwork, allowing the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to sell a piece of property with a garage and a couple sheds to the Town of Naples.

The town closed on the property purchase on Sept. 28, according to Naples Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak. The acreage is located off Route 11, and was formerly used by MDOT to store road maintenance vehicles.

Now, the Naples Public Safety department will clean up the buildings and the property in preparation for using the extra storage space, he said.

Naples Fire Chief Chris Pond plans to send two unused fire trucks in that direction, Paraschak said. Other items to be stored at the facility were not discussed.

As a result of the land purchase, there will be more space inside Rick’s Café this winter. For the past few years, the owner of that long-time restaurant has housed the Causeway benches inside Rick’s.

This autumn, the Causeway benches will go from their sitting spots into the former MDOT building. The garage space will provide an area where benches can be repaired.

“We are phasing out the benches on the Causeway,” Paraschak said, adding the ones that need more maintenance will be moved first.

The new parcel won’t be immune from snow and ice.

“I will reach out to P&K (Sand and Gravel) to add the property to their plow list,” Paraschak said.