PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The City Council authorized the Industrial Council executive director to seek grant money to add a new rail spur to the intermodal rail yard in the industrial park.
City council members met with Industrial Council Executive Director Tom Powers to approve submitting an Intermodal Rail Access Proposal grant application on Oct. 3 toward the $500,000 project.
The Industrial Council has worked out an agreement with Dead River Co. for an additional 1,700-foot rail spur section — not exclusive to Dead River — to add to the two rail spurs already in the mobile yard. An extra spur would allow the company to increase propane shipments from once to twice a week.
Fire Chief Darrell White expressed concern about the increased quantity of propane stored by Dead River and suggested the company help fire engines in the event of an emergency.
“[Dead River is] willing to match the other 50 percent, if the IRPA is granted to the city of Presque Isle. It makes a no-money-spent situation for us to have this rail spur put in,” Powers said.
Powers hopes the state will award Presque Isle with the other half of the proceeds for the rail spur.
From left, City council chairman Kevin Freeman and city council member Mike Chasse at the City Council meeting. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
The first hearing for a $15 million draft budget for 2023 was discussed with City Council members and Town Manager Martin Puckett. Next year’s proposed budget will include a Local Road Assistance Program. A percentage increase from 2022 to 2023 in salaries and wages are proposed across all departments. A final date for the workshop will be on Nov. 16.
City Council approved of the amendment to chapter 48 of the General Assistance Ordinance and adopted the new USDA recommendations. People coming to Presque Isle without income and who didn’t apply for General Assistance are eligible for $692 monthly income. If someone has an income of $500 for example, the person would be eligible for an additional $192, Puckett said.
It would be a temporary emergency assistance due to restrictions placed upon it by the state. Most of the assistance is used for food and cleaning supplies, and rent assistance with a requirement for the person to find a place to stay. For a five-person household, the amount of assistance will go up $75 per person.
Presque Isle City Council members, from left, Craig Green and Gary Nelson discuss approving proposals with City Manager Martin Puckett. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
The council also approved a special permit for a car graveyard at Jalbert Auto Salvage at 204 Chapman Road and a marijuana license to Chad Jenkins for his business Northern Euphoria LLC located at 11 Davis St.
The last item on the agenda was an approval to Dasco Inc. purchasing 1.91 acres at 1555 Central Drive for $64,050.
At the start of the Sept. 28 City Council meeting, council members were presented with two brand new police vehicles by officers, who went over the improvements made over the old vehicles.
