Sangerville looks to repair aging tanker truck rather than replace

SANGERVILLE — Following the resignation of Sangerville Fire Chief Matt Blockler on July 6, Orman Gray, a former assistant chief, has been appointed interim chief through early next year.

Gray’s appointment has prompted a change in strategy for handling a 1993 tanker truck currently off the road due to a failed inspection. Gray is considering repair options instead of purchasing a brand new truck.

Blockler emailed his resignation to Town Manager Brian Mullis on July 6.

“I accepted it with our thanks for the great work that he has done for the fire department and the town of Sangerville,” Mullis said during a Select Board meeting at the fire station on July 15. Blockler is staying on as an active member of the department.

Deputy Chief Travis LaBree was the next in line to succeed Blockler. He and Mullis talked, but LaBree opted against moving up, citing too much else going on and feeling he lacks the level of necessary experience.

Gray agreed to serve on an interim basis with Mullis being permitted to make this appointment. He could serve through the next annual town meeting in March.

“I had really come to the point and Orman had as well where we don’t feel a new fire truck purchase is attainable for the Town of Sangerville at this time,” Mullis said. 

The anticipated cost of $580,000 would have been financed, for example at $70,000 annually over a decade.

Gray will seek several estimates for repairs to get the 1993 back in service.

The vehicle, with 400,000 miles and a standard transmission, has problems such as oil leaks, issues with the brakes and rot in the rear frame. 

“I think the truck’s got three or four or even five more years of life left in it. I don’t think it’s dead yet,” he said. “The town can’t really afford three quarters of a $1 million.”

Mullis said this should be a better plan. He and Gray both acknowledged Blockler’s work to fund a new truck.

“It’s just the reality of what we can afford,” Mullis said.

In the interim, money would be put into capital reserve for a future truck purchase.

Gray said one way to save money is to have essential people only go on EMS calls, such as lift assist, so other firefighters are not simply standing around and doing nothing.

In other business, the Select Board accepted more than $3,200 raised from the third annual Town of Two Knights Festival held the previous Saturday. This does not include prior money accepted.

The events and beautification committee has received multiple sponsorship checks along with vendor fees and car show money. This includes $500 from A.E. Robinson and Puritan Medical Products, $250 from 207 Powersports, more than $900 in vendor fees and nearly $1,100 from the car show.

The Town of Two Knights Festival went well, Drewcilla Stone of the committee said. There were a few hiccups during setup but these were handled fairly quickly.

The group did a phenomenal job, Mullis said.

“You went so far above and beyond what we could ever ask of volunteers,” he said.

The events and beautification committee also fixed the town hall sign.

“It was a success and a very good job and very well attended I thought,” Select Chair Jeff Peters said.

Mullis heard a ballpark figure of 500 attendees.

More than 80 cars were on display, Stone said. The plan is to have the festival listed in a directory to hopefully have even more automobiles parked at the 2027 event.

The July 2027 festival could have fireworks — Mullis said he wanted to emphasize there would be no tax dollars used for this.

Figures of $5,000 or $10,000 were mentioned for such a display and funding could come from the sponsorships and vendor fees.

Town officials discussed property taxes as many citizens have expressed concern with the increase over the last few years, Mullis wrote in his weekly update on the town Facebook page.

“The message to you the citizens is that we hear you,” he wrote. “I appreciate that the vast majority of citizens that have talked to me personally about the taxes have been polite, civil and direct. Honestly, I agree with you, as a taxpayer in Sangerville my family is affected by these tax increases as well. I am hearing as well as we are all feeling the other part of the equation is the rising cost of everything else at a rapid rate over the past few months.

“We feel with 25% of our citizens living below the federal poverty line that we do need to act. The last thing the Select Board, or those of us who work for the town want to do is force anyone to give up their property due to unaffordable taxes.”

Mullis acknowledged that repairing the old tank truck may not be ideal long-term and carries risk, but wrote that it appears to be the best current option for the budget. 

Last year critical road work, drainage and ditching was carried out.

“This year we are still faced with a lot of necessary road work that we need and will do but at this time we have very little urgent work that needs to be done,” Mullis wrote. “Our plan is to move a little slower and more cautiously with road spending the remainder of the year.”

A gravel section of the Flanders Hill Road will be paved next month and a shim coat of pavement will be put on the east end of the road and maybe partially on the west end. Paving will be finished next year.

The most urgent road needs for 2027 are on the Silvers Mills Road, repairing three culverts, doing some ditching and milling and rebuilding between the Anderson and Brockway Mills roads depending on budget considerations.

“We will be holding all spending to what we need to do for the foreseeable future,” Mullis wrote. “The more we can carry forward at the end of this year means the less we will need next year.”

The town will do its part, but has no control over the SAD 4 budget where 60% of tax dollars are spent, Mullis wrote. 

“To be fair to them, this year they gave us a budget that increased less than the rate of inflation,” he wrote.

The town manager urged residents to attend school board meetings, learn where and how they are required to spend money and be part of the solution. He said SAD 4 has a great website with information on everything.