County residents favor sheriff’s building purchase referendum question  

Thanks to  to the generosity of the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, Piscataquis County officials will not need to take out a $145,000 bond for the purchase of the former Key Bank building at 2 Hudson Avenue in downtown Guilford to become the new home of the patrol and investigation divisions of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier in the month the announcement of the previously anonymous $145,000 donor was made on the front lawn of the building.

Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union President and CEO Rhonda Taylor contacted Sheriff Bob Young after the July 14 referendum ballot question on a potential building purchase had been approved by the Secretary so the region’s residents were still asked “Do you favor a $145,000 bond issue to purchase the former Key Bank building, in Guilford in order to relocate and provide infrastructure for the patrol division of the sheriff’s department?” when they went to the polls and/or voted absentee.

The $145,000 purchase cost would have come with an additional $29,100 in interest over the next decade.

With three towns still to report totals, the question tallies are 2,549 “yes” votes and 1,378 “no” votes. This equals an approval percentage of just under 65%.

On the day of the announcement Young thanked the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union on the department Facebook page. He also wrote, “The question will still be on the ballot July 14. While the question is moot because we no longer need to borrow the money, your affirmative vote would be an encouragement to us, and I’m sure to the credit union.”