Greenville

Greenville mil rate set at $14.70; new plow truck purchase approved

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GREENVILLE — The Greenville Board of Selectmen had good news for property owners at last week’s meeting. They set the town’s tax rate at $14.70 per $1,000 per of assessed valuation, down 40 cents per $1,000 from last year and 60 cents lower than 2012.
    The town’s total valuation of taxable real estate and personal property is $293,721,500, up slightly from last year’s $288,700,000.

LO-GrangeInstall-DCX-PO-37Photo courtesy of Walter Boomsma

MASTERS’ ROW — Four local Grange masters were recently installed by Vicki Huff of South Portland, master of the Maine State Grange, at a ceremony hosted by the Valley Grange in North Guilford. Volunteers from Penquis served an Italian buffet for the officers, Grangers and other guests. Pictured, from left, are Blaine Nuite, master of South Sangerville Grange; Erin Callaway, master of East Sangerville Grange; Vicki Huff; Bill Bemis, master of Garland Grange and master of Piscataquis Pomona; and Jim Annis, master of Valley Grange.

    Selectman Geno Murray credited Town Manager John Simko and the previous boards for “a great job keeping the rate down. It’s not only good news for the townspeople, but a good sign that the economy is perking up.”
    Selectmen also voted unanimously to purchase a 2015 Western Star tandem axle truck and outfit it with a steel body and plow equipment from H.P. Fairfield of Skowhegan for a total purchase price of $159,413.
    Simko made a detailed PowerPoint presentation, outlining the troubled history of the 2003 Sterling that will be traded in for the new vehicle. “There’s rust fatigue in the body and frame, parts are hard to find … it has 86,000 miles and 6,900 hours on it,” he explained. In addition to plowing, “We haul sand, gravel, ditching and other material with it.”
    Public Works Foreman Mark Bernier said that the vehicle isn’t running right now because of a broken transmission cooler line which is no longer a stock replacement item. “So our only recourse is to make our own,” he told the board. “This is the second time in the last three months we’ve had this situation.”
    Despite the Sterling’s condition, the winning bid includes a $24,000 trade-in credit, Simko said. The new vehicle won’t be ready until after Jan. 1 and maybe as late as March 2015, so the Sterling will still have to be placed back in service over the winter.
    Pros and cons of other makes were discussed, but both Simko and Bernier recommended the Western Star from Daigle and Houghton of Hermon.
    Simko quipped that Greenville, like most other towns in the region, has a “love-hate relationship with H.P. Fairfield” even though they’re mostly satisfied with their service. Since it’s is the closest plowing equipment dealer to Greenville, they’re the “only game in town,” he explained. The equipment will run $79,775 or nearly half the cost of the entire purchase.
    Financing will come from existing reserve accounts to minimize town indebtedness.
    Selectmen also agreed to schedule a special town meeting before their Sept. 17 selectmen’s meeting to officially accept the Community Development Micro-Enterprise grant already approved for Northwoods Gourmet Girl’s expansion.
    Simko explained that while the $50,000 grant was already approved, CDBG regulations require that the funds be accepted by the residents, not just the elected officials. So the public hearing and special town meeting will be set for 6 p.m., a half-hour before the board meeting.
    Selectmen also agreed to meet with Fire Chief Matt Laurent for a walk-through of the fire station to address some deficiencies in the building later this fall; and to hold a joint meeting with the Greenville School Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 10 to discuss better ways for the two boards to share information.

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