Voters OK increased funding for Highway Department
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
WASHBURN — During the annual town meeting, held March 20 at Washburn District High School, citizens took about a half hour to discuss and pass the budget, set at an estimated $2,113,329 — this includes estimates of $65,900 for the County portion and $750,000 for SAD 45. The mil rate remained at 26.5 — or $26.50 per $1,000 of valuation — for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2012, but that rate could change by the time tax notices are sent out this summer, once county and school figures are finalized and factored in.
This year’s turnout was considerably smaller than last year, with about a dozen residents present to vote. Also present were: Lisa Mette, town clerk; Bev Turner, town manager; Troy Heald, fire chief; Doug Conroy, police chief; Town Councilors Daren Churchill, Keith Brown and Fred Thomas; Council Chair Mike Umphrey; Katherine Veitschegger, librarian; Marcie Barbarula, recreation director; Harold Easler, highway foreman; and Adam Doody, code enforcement officer/plumbing inspector. Fred Flewelling served as moderator for the meeting.
This year’s budget is up just over $200,000 from last year, with part of the increase due to the town having to pick up more of the cost of garbage removal, to continue to take part in the Pay-As-You-Throw program established by Presque Isle in 2011. The majority of the increase, however — about $105,000 — is for the Highway Department to do much-needed maintenance on local roadways, with a requested $432,221 approved by voters.
In Washburn’s 2012 annual report, Easler noted that “chip seal” lasts, on average, three to five years and that the community should be “resurfacing no less than three miles per year, minimum.”
“We have roads that have not been resurfaced in 15 years. If we allow this trend to continue, then we probably will not be able to keep up with patching and routine maintenance. Costs also continue to go up, so the sooner we take care of our roads, the more cost-effective it will be for the town,” wrote Easler.
All articles were approved as they appeared in the annual report, including Article 30 authorizing the adoption of a Property Assesses Clean Energy (PACE) Ordinance and entering into a PACE program agreement with the Efficiency Maine Trust, with the town manager authorized to sign the same on behalf of the town.
Turner explained this was a loan program, with no obligation on the town’s part, through Efficiency Maine. To participate, an energy audit would be required; those eligible could receive loans for energy-efficient upgrades at an interest rate of about 4.9 percent.
“Hopefully this is something residents can use to improve their homes,” said Turner.
In other business, the winners of two three-year terms on the Town Council were incumbents Kermit Fuller and Mike Umphrey. Incumbents Noreen McIntosh, Jennifer Olson and Cary Schumacher also retained their seats for three-year terms on the SAD 45 school board.
