OAKFIELD, Maine — A group of about 30 residents spent about 90 minutes taking care of town business during Oakfield’s annual town meeting on March 19.
Residents approved a municipal spending plan of $573,566 for 2018. The budget is up about $3,400 from the previous year, according to Town Manager Dale Morris.
“It was a good turnout,” Morris said. “We average between 25-35 people each year, so this was right on the norm.”
Robert Dickinson won re-election to the board of selectmen. Joining him on the board is newcomer Matt Crandall, who was also elected. Incumbent Matt Bustard opted not to seek re-election, Morris said.
One of the key warrant articles, Morris said, was an appropriation of $30,000 for playground equipment for the town. Morris explained the intent is to renovate a parcel of land located near Whitey’s Market, located at 192 Oakfield Smyrna Road.
“Back in 1975, Calving Brown donated a 10-acre parcel of land to the town with the restriction that it be a town park,” Morris said. “The lot has pretty much sat empty since then.”
Additionally, a full-time position was created for the town’s public works department, he said.
Morris said residents also were updated on plans for the new town fire station. Back on Nov. 2, residents approved spending up to $1.3 million for a new fire station during a special town meeting. Nearly 100 people turned out for that gathering, with 70 individuals in favor of the project, with 24 opposed.
Selectmen reviewed bids for the project at a March 14 meeting and selected C&I Custom Builders of Enfield for the project, with a bid totalling $1,019,640. Five companies submitted proposals for the construction, with C&I coming in with the lowest cost.
“The bids came in under budget by roughly $300,000, so we are off to a good start,” Morris said. “Typically when you go out to bid on a public construction, you might have to scale back (the project). This is a win-win for everyone.”
The entirety of the project will be funded from the town’s Tax Increment Finance account that was created following the construction of a wind farm in the community. No local tax dollars will be used for the project, Morris said.
The existing fire station was built with three bays in 1959 and a fourth bay was added some time in the 1980s.
The new fire station features five bays, a training room, storage rooms, showers and an office, covering 7,152 square feet. The station will be built at the intersection of River and Ridge roads, where an old school house once stood.
Morris said the town hopes to break ground on the new fire station in June and have the project completed by October.
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- This empty lot at the intersection of River and Ridge roads, where an old school house once stood, will be the new home of the Oakfield Fire Department by the fall. (Joseph Cyr)
