LIMESTONE, Maine — The Loring Development Authority held their regular monthly meeting on Sept. 3 to discuss a number of potential business prospects LDA is currently evaluating, as well as to say goodbye to a longtime employee, who has worked at LDA since the very beginning.
Mary Saunders was the very first employee to be hired at LDA in November of 1993, when the former Loring Air Force Base was still making the transition from a military base to a commerce center. She has been working on the front lines at LDA, doing a number of vitally important tasks, as an administrative assistant, that president and CEO Carl Flora claims kept the LDA ship afloat for the past 20-plus years.
“Over the years, Mary’s work has been instrumental to LDA’s success,” said Flora. “Mary has always been ready and able to take on nearly any task and she gets it done and understands intuitively why it’s important.”
“It’s been an exceptional job. It’s run the gamut from fruit to nuts, but it’s mostly been great,” Saunders said with a smile. “There were wonderful people to work with over all the years, and other than the stress, I had fun.”
Saunders expressed her sentiments toward Loring and her hopes toward the commerce center’s future, which she believes has great potential as an industrial hub for northern Maine.
“I’ve always known Loring could be more than an Air Force base and I still do believe that, but Rome wasn’t built in a day either,” Saunders added.
Flora explained that it would be a couple more months until a replacement is found for Saunders’ administrative assistant position. Saunders has set a target date of Oct. 31 to retire, but she said she will remain in her current position until a replacement can be hired and has had an opportunity to become familiar with the job. Flora said that LDA is currently “on the search.”
“We will miss Mary and we wish her the very best as she enters retirement,” Flora added.
Saunders, who currently lives in Limestone, expects to remain in the area.
Flora continued by explaining that LDA has advertised for Saunders’ administrative assistant position and a vacant firefighter position.
“We also expect to hire a water plant/distribution system operator this fall. Jim Marquis, LDA’s longtime utilities supervisor is no longer able to work due to health issues, and has filed for disability,” said Flora. “Bob Doucette, who began working on Loring’s water and wastewater utilities as a civilian Air Force employee has agreed to take on an expanded role. With the new hire, we will be up to full strength with three persons responsible for water treatment and distribution systems, and the sewer collection system.”
Flora also discussed the budget update for LDA, which projects a year-end loss of $77,900 for the 2015 fiscal year. The gap was anticipated due to energy costs driving up expenses last year. Flora explained that LDA is not only working on ways to generate new revenue, but they have switched to propane fuel, for which they are now paying $1.90 per gallon.
Flora reported that LDA has decided to continue their arrangement with TAMC and Crown Ambulance, which maintains a 24/7 presence for emergency medical and fire response at Loring and in Limestone. LDA was contemplating the idea of going in another direction, but Flora explained that LDA believes it’s important for Loring to have that steady emergency response, so the residents in the area know they can count on a reasonable response time.
The next LDA board of trustees meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the LDA board room.
