Houlton Water Company gives back to community

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The Houlton Water Company has been in business for more than 125 years. Established back in 1880, they have made Houlton a better place and their mission is the same today.
    Through the years they have come to the rescue of many causes. Most recently the Houlton school district benefited from their help.
    With the renovations currently under way for the new Houlton Community Arts Center located at Houlton High School, this project has not been without unexpected challenges.One of those took place when McPartland’s Plumbing and Heating crew was preparing to install the required sprinkler system within the school. Preliminary plans were to bring the water source in from the Pleasant and Bird street hydrant. However, before the digging began for the installation of a six-inch service main to the building, Brian McGuire, HWC water and wastewater superintendent discovered that there was main already in place servicing the Region Two building that is adjacent to the high school. This meant that the distance to connect and the cost would be much less — approximately $60,000.
    If this water source had not already been in place the street would have been dug up, blasting may have been done and a significant amount of labor and materials realized.
    Adding to this was the discovery of a domestic water line leading into the school at the front entrance.   Put in place many years ago in anticipation of the need for a future sprinkler system, it was never utilized. Jimmy McPartland made this discovery as he and the Water Company crew were coordinating the project.
    Once the water source was located there was still the need for a “gate” valve and thanks to John Clark, general manager of the Water Company giving his OK, the valve was ordered and installed by McPartland’s and the work completed within a couple of days.
    “John looks at the school district projects as an investment in the students who are the future citizens of Houlton and that the company’s donation to education is the way to go,” said McGuire.
    SAD 29 Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick also had high praise for Clark and the Houlton Water Company for this savings.
    “The water company has come to our rescue once again and saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars. I can’t say enough about the integrity of this company and the people who work for them,” said Fitzpatrick.
    This is not the only time the Water Company has given more than anticipated. In the past they have assisted with setting light poles for the soccer fields at the high school and most recently the new fields at Southside School. They have also come to the rescue to unplug sewer lines at the high school during a weekend event. These services were performed at a minimal cost or none at all.
    In addition to the Water Company and McPartland’s Plumbing and Heating, Fitzpatrick also praised the work of all the local contractors that were used for this community project, including, Peter Chase of Buildings Etc. who has been the major building contractor, Swallow’s Electric, Ross Sheet Metal and Chuck Wallace Painting Services.
    “Everyone has gone above and beyond their normal scope of a day’s work. They have put in long hours and had to adjust their schedules to fit the challenges of deadlines, materials that arrived late or orders that arrived with the wrong material resulting in delays and reorders,” said Fitzpatrick.
    According to McPartland, working with the district’s custodial staff has been a major reason for the success of the project.
    “They have been very helpful assisting each contractor in any way they could. They have complimented this endeavor to create a state-of-the-art facility for the town of Houlton and the school population,” said McPartland.
    Those members of the SAD 29 staff include, Dale Clark, Paul Prosser, Ervin Clark, Clifford Redman, Dale Swimm, Steve Codrey, Elwood Hare, Lawrence Parks and two additional summer staff members, Eric Grant and John Eastman