SUN JOURNAL • February 16, 2022
It was clear following a legislative public hearing this week that Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque was unhappy. He was surprised by testimony delivered by Lewiston officials, particularly Mayor Carl Sheline, that questioned legislation that would eliminate a long-held building restriction in Auburn’s agricultural zone. Levesque’s view is it will increase housing options in a region that desperately needs them. “Stay on your side of the river,” Levesque said at the end of a lengthy Facebook post. During his testimony Monday on LD 1884, Sheline argued that the bill would lead to more development in the Lake Auburn watershed, potentially impacting water quality at the lake and possibly forcing the cities to build an expensive treatment plant. Levesque’s public response to Sheline and Lewiston officials underscores years of friction between the two cities over costs associated with the lake, which is the drinking water source for both cities.