Public safety building grand opening on Saturday

GREENVILLE — A grand opening celebration and open house for Greenville’s new public safety building on Minden Street is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. Town Manager Mike Roy made the announcement during a June 5 select board meeting, saying invitations have been sent out to various people, organizations, and agencies.

“We’re planning hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, a drink, and tours of the building,” he said.

“We have an itinerary that may involve Geno (Murray) as chair of the select board giving a few words, myself, and the fire chief and police chief,” Roy said. He said both U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine and U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine have been invited, and if able to attend the senators would speak or representatives would likely do so in the absence of the senators.

The facility houses the fire and police departments and a community meeting room in the 19,000 square feet. The old fire station, built in 1963, had poor insulation, no hot water, and just one bathroom. The new structure provides ample workspace and room for regional training sessions. It was designed to serve the town’s anticipated needs for many years to come. A grand opening celebration is likely to be held sometime in the spring. 

USDA Maine State Director Rhiannon Hampson announced late last year the last of five major USDA Rural Development grants to central Maine towns in 2023 for fire station construction. Greenville, Plymouth, and Newburgh joined Corinna and Bradford in building spacious public safety buildings using USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grants. Greenville received a grant of $902,000 to help pay for construction of the public safety building.

In his report Roy said, “Ron (Sarol), our CEO, is very busy with permits and questions and phone calls about potential projects.”

“In the last four years the Greenville area, or Greenville proper, as of today there are 102 new homes,” the town manager said. “That’s not Beaver Cove, that’s just Greenville itself.”

Roy also mentioned that new town officers are in effect. The office at 7 Minden Street is closed on Mondays but open 10 hours a day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. There are no changes to curbside trash pickup or transfer station hours.