An Act To Change the Name of Township 17, Range 5, WELS, in the Unorganized Territory to Cross Lake (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1925
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: PARADIS, MARTIN, FISCHER, JACKSON, SHERMAN, SMITH, TWOMEY, WOTTON, YOUNG, ROTUNDO

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1925 
H.P.1425 
House of Representatives, March 16,2004 
An Act To Change the Name of Township 17, Range 5, WELS, in 
the Unorganized Territory to Cross Lake 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative PARADIS of Frenchville. 
Cosponsored by Senator MARTIN of Aroostook and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: FISCHER of Presque Isle, JACKSON of Fort Kent, SHERMAN of Hodgdon, 
SMITH of Van Buren, TWOMEY of Biddeford, WOTTON of Littleton, YOUNG of 
Limestone, Senator: ROTUNDO of Androscoggin. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation proposes a 
referendum to ratify 
changing the name of the unorganized area referred to currently 
as Township 17, Range 5, WELS, and located in Aroostook County to 
Cross Lake. 
The proposal results from the desires of residents 
of the township to preserve the area's identity and to provide 
efficiency for postal services and emergency 9-1-1 response; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Cross Lake. 
Wherever the designation Township 17, 
Range 5, WELS, appears or reference is made to that unorganized 
territory, that designation or reference means Cross Lake. 
Sec. 2. Referendum for ratification. 
This Act must be submitted 
to the legal voters residing in the unorganized territory of 
Township 17, Range 5, WELS, in Aroostook County. 
The date of the 
submission must be determined by the Aroostook County Board of 
Commissioners 
but 
may 
not 
be 
later 
than 
months 
after 
adjournment 
of 
the 
Second 
Special 
Session 
of 
the 
121st 
Legislature. 
The Aroostook County commissioners are authorized 
to expend such funds as necessary to implement the referendum. 
The county commissioners shall cause the preparation of the 
required ballots, on which they shall state the subject matter of 
this Act in the following question: 
"Do you favor changing the name of Township 17, Range 5, 
WELS, to Cross Lake?" 
The voters shall indicate by a cross or a check mark placed 
against the words "Yes" or "No" their opinion of the question. 
This Act takes effect immediately upon its acceptance by a 
majority of the legal voters voting at the election. 
The result of the election must be declared by the Aroostook 
County commissioners and due certificate filed with the Secretary 
of State. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the Aroostook County commissioners to 
seek approval from the residents of Township 17, Range 5, WELS, 
to rename the township Cross Lake.