CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou’s city office may be undergoing renovations, but the clerks are still able to service the community while a team of hard workers improves the building’s layout and appearance.
“It’s very exciting to see the work that’s happening here,” said City Clerk Jayne Farrin. “It’s a little quieter this week because the demolition took place last week.”
When construction is finished, there will be four offices at the front entrance. Two of those offices will be next to the front windows. One office will be next to the two back windows and the fourth office will be windowless.
Farrin is excited about this project, and believes it will greatly improve the efficiency of Caribou’s city office.
“It will be easier to cover for others when they’re absent. There will be better service to the city of Caribou because we will be together. There should be less wait. I can do motor vehicles out front and so can Kalen (Hill),” she said.
“Before, if Connie was doing motor vehicles out front, she wouldn’t call us unless she thought the line was too long for her to handle. If there were three people, the second and third people would have to wait. Now when they come in, we will be readily available to wait on the customer and get them out the door so they can go on with their day.”
A handful of contractors bid on this project in late 2015, and the council decided to go with J.P. Martin & Sons’ bid of $138,650. Aside from altering the layout, the project also includes improved flooring and ceilings. The ceiling is changing to accommodate new LED-powered lights, which are energy efficient and intended to save the city money over time.
There is no set date for when the renovations will be complete, but the consensus seems to be that it will not take long. In the meantime, Caribou remains open for business.
“Often when town offices are renovated,” concluded Farrin, “the employees have to leave, but we’re able to keep working the whole time, so this is actually a very ideal situation.”
