HOULTON, Maine — Town Councilors on Monday evening opted to sell 66 acres of municipally owned property in Monticello that was purchased more than 25 years ago.
During a meeting on Oct. 14, Town Manager Marion Anderson said the town purchased the land for $35,300 in 1993 because it needed the topsoil to aid in the closure of the municipal landfill.
The town pays Monticello a $400 tax bill as a result.
Anderson told councilors during the meeting two weeks ago that the individuals who monitor the landfill said that they saw no need for the town to continue to own the property. She proposed selling the property to avoid continuing to pay the taxes.
But at the meeting two weeks ago, several councilors suggested that the town might continue to own it in order to liquidate the remaining timber on the land.
The town had received $22,000 in revenue after the land was harvested six years ago.
It was costing the town $600 in taxes a year to keep the property.
Anderson said Monday evening, Oct. 28, that she did not have a formal appraisal done and did not know what the land was worth.
She said it was on the market once before and had no offers.
With little discussion, councilors voted unanimously to sell the land.
