Milo Public Safety Building nearing completion

MILO — Construction on Milo’s forthcoming public safety building is nearly 90% complete. 

When finished, likely sometime next month, the $7.2 million building will house the fire, police and public works departments at the Eastern Piscataquis Business Park, less than a mile from the 100-year-old town hall where the fire and police departments are currently located. 

Milo officials are working with the office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine to coordinate a ribbon-cutting ceremony for October. Collins helped secure a $6,375,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the project. 

Permanent power is set to be installed at the public safety building next week, Town Manager Bob Canney said during a Sept. 9 Select Board meeting.

A subcontractor found a water connection on the building side of Harris Pond Road so the Gerrish Road pavement will not need to be cut into. The savings will help fund a building generator and other items. 

“At this rate I don’t think we will be moving in till mid to late October,” Canny said. “Once the building’s all done, the paving’s all done and the other stuff is pretty much done, then it’ll be a punch list.”

The town has not yet determined how much space will be available at the town hall’s lowest level when the departments move out. Inquiries have been made to Canney.

 The rec office will move upstairs to the former police office, and some space will be reserved for when social service agencies visit Milo. The fire department plans to relocate items into the town hall that are being stored elsewhere. 

In other business, Select Chair Paula Copeland addressed some recent disruptions to high school and middle school soccer games and practices with the Penquis Valley teams being unable to use the town’s Harris Field.

Copeland read a statement from the towns of Milo and Brownville, which together have Penquis Recreation: “We extend our sincere apologies to our community members, and most importantly to our local athletes, for the inconvenience and frustration this situation caused.”

The disruption stemmed from a misinterpretation regarding a newly updated facility scheduling policy and form. Due to a breakdown in communication among the involved entities, Penquis Recreation relocated its soccer practices to Harris Field under the impression it was necessary. This subsequent overlap required SAD 41 to alter its own practice and game schedules.

Following a comprehensive review by officials from the two towns, the new policy guidelines have been clarified. It has been determined that the administrative updates do not require any changes to the scheduling of Penquis Recreation programs. Consequently, Penquis Valley teams will resume regular use of Harris Field for all practices and games, effective immediately.

To ensure long-term scheduling stability and prevent future communication gaps, SAD 41 Athletic Director Jason Mills and Penquis Recreation Director Crystal Cail — in coordination with municipal officials — are proactively drafting a formal facility use agreement. The document will clearly define operational responsibilities and establish a structured process for resolving potential scheduling conflicts across both SAD 41 and town-owned recreational facilities.

“While we deeply regret the impact this administrative oversight had on our community, the resulting dialogue has strengthened working relationships between our organizations,” Copeland said.

The Economic Development Committee has an online survey, available on the Friends of Milo Facebook page with a QR code.

“We think it’s better to ask for everyone’s opinion and then see what we can do with the information that we gather.”

Breena Bissell of the committee said. 

The survey will be up for the remainder of the year.

A new downtown information kiosk is nearing completion, Bissell said.

Friends of Milo is working with JSI Store Fixtures to secure display cases that will hold maps and information about Milo and the surrounding area. Cork boards will be included to provide local groups and businesses a place to post notices and announcements.

“We are sitting at 220 calls which is significantly less than last year and that’s 99% due to the ambulance having coverage 24/7,” Fire Chief Mike Harris said. “That’s a weight off our shoulders.”