Two Knights Brewing Company grant formally approved

SANGERVILLE —  A $100,000 State of Maine Community Development Block Grant economic development program grant for Two Knights Brewing Company to help business expand by purchasing canning equipment, which would allow for Two Knights Brewing Company beer to be sold in area stores, was formally approved by the Sangerville Select Board during a Nov. 5 meeting at the fire station.

 “Essentially you have to accept that on behalf of the town,” Town Manager Brian Mullis said. 

“No tax dollars from the town get spent on this, we are completely a pass-through,” he added, saying Androscoggin Bank Senior Vice President, Director of Banking John Simko will come to Sangerville in the near future to explain how monies are distributed.

Grant funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are awarded to states and then monies pass through municipalities on the business’ behalf,

A public hearing prior to the meeting and a previous hearing both drew no attendees. 

“We can make the assumption our citizens are comfortable enough so they don’t have any questions,” Mullis said.

Previously the town manager said payoffs for the town are more taxable property and grant requirements have Two Knights Brewing adding three full-time equivalent positions.

In other business, after a more than 1 hour, 20 minute executive session the select board voted to approve a contract with Mullis for the next two years. The vote was made 2-1 with Selectperson Josh Tracy voting against. 

“In that session we have discussed the contract with our town manager for the following two years,” Chair Jeff Peters said, with the board signing and accepting the contract presented by Mullis — terms were not disclosed.

“I’ve got one last thing to say before we adjourn,” Tracy said. “When we adjourn, I’m done, I’m resigning.”

Peters said the board will need a letter of resignation from Tracy which would then be accepted.

“I’m sorry you feel that way Josh,” Peters said.

“I’m sorry as well Josh,” Mullis said.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think you are,” Tracy responded.

Tracy’s term of office runs through March 2028.

“They have gone back into silent mode on me again,”  Mullis said about town hall roof contractor Roof Systems of Maine.

Roof work has been done by Roof Systems of Maine and company representatives have not wanted to come to town to meet with the select board following some concerns over the scope of work. Town officials are waiting to make payment until everything is clarified as the actual contract was between Roof Systems of Maine and engineer Wentworth Partnerships & Associates of Skowhegan.

An amount of $18,800 and costs for the lift were mentioned as payment as the town is not refusing to pay, but would like to have some questions answered and is willing to pay a fair price.

The application due date for a $250,000 Maine Historical Preservation grant is Dec. 6. Mullis said work has begun on a portion of the application and he is awaiting the full document. Part of it will be done by Wentworth Partnerships & Associates.

The select board also heard from Helping Hands with Heart volunteer facilitator Sue Mackey Andrews. 

The all-volunteer organization was formed to serve the Maine Highlands in the late 1990s by the five regional school districts and has a mission to “support residents in the area to meet their local needs,” Mackey Andrews said.

Referrals are made by towns, social services, law enforcement agencies and citizens.

“We really work to make sure that all resources that are supposed to be coming into Piscataquis County are coming in from all of the various organizations and agencies at the state and local level,” she said,

Since 2020 Helping Hands with Heart has served 844 households with $116,000 expended. Each dollar has been matched by much more, $25-30, from other organizations, Mackey Andrews said.

Helping Hands with Heart meets Wednesdays from 9-10 a.m. and has 75 members with 45-50 being very active. 

Mackey Andrews explained many residents of the region are “asset limited, income constrained and employed,” using the acronym ALICE.

She did not have Sangerville-specific numbers but in Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford around 50 percent of residents meet this criteria and for some towns it is close to 75 percent who “either live in poverty or at its edge.” 

This is important with federal, budget and local budget cuts looming, Mackey Andrews said.

“We used to never have ALICE referrals with Helping Hands with Heart,” she said, mentioning people are working, including multiple jobs, and still not making ends meet. 

Many do not know how to ask for help and when they do it often is too late.

“Pride usually translates into a reluctance to ask for help,” Mackey Andrews said.

In Piscataquis County there are 35 homeless households and another 20-25 with pending evictions. Those lacking housing are living in their cars or the woods, even in winter.

Helping Hands with Heart has a partnership with the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter and is working on getting funds in place to have someone who can work in Piscataquis County.

In 2000 about 82% of area homes were owner occupied and now the figure is about half, Mackey Andrews said with Airbnbs and rental properties being in place today.

“Rents that were available for people have been taken out and made it impossible for people to survive,” she said.

“About 65 percent of our population, we believe, struggles to make the bills every month and likely doesn’t,” Mackey Andrews said.

Plans have been in works to prepare for cuts to SNAP and heating and housing assistance.