Poland: Reval wanted for savings

Selectman Glenn Peterson asked at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting why the town was neglecting to do a town revaluation that could save certain citizens $90,000.

Peterson said that veterans, the blind and homestead holders would save that much money if the town were at a 100-percent valuation, which a revaluation would rectify.

Town Manager Richard Chick pointed out that while Peterson was raising a valid issue, the board also needed to consider that a complete revaluation, if done properly, could take a full two years. The average homeowner’s valuation would most likely remain the same, but that of citizens with shore property or property with a view would likely increase hugely.

Peterson encouraged the board to move forward with a full revaluation as soon as possible.

– Barbara Lance Lauze
Poland: Expansion questionairs on way

The Poland Economic Development Committee plans to hand-deliver to all of the 64 businesses in town a questionnaire that aims to discover whether the businesses are planning any expansion, and what other businesses they would like to see in the area.

A Business Summit Meeting will be held to introduce all the existing businesses to each other, after which a Community Visioning Process will bring the town together to brainstorm ways of building the Poland business community, according to committee Chairman Chuck Finger.

The committee already has determined that both entrances into town via Route 26 give a less-than-favorable impression, considering that the first view of the town from one direction is of the high school’s Dumpsters, while the other view encompasses a large, unmarked municipal building.

The committee has hired Steve Levesque as a professional consultant to guide the group in its revitalization plans. Levesque is the former director of the Maine Department of Economic Development.

– Barbara Lance Lauze
Turner: Funding question goes to vote

Voters will be asked to provide funding for the Turner Arts/Cultural Committee at town meeting in April. Funding for the committee, a subcommittee of the Leavitt Institute Board of Directors, is a town government accounting item so its ability to raise and appropriate funds must be approved by voters of the town. Its income and expenses will be handled in a separate account from the town office.

Turner: Committee sets meetings

The Solid Waste Committee will meet the second Wednesday of every month to prepare proposals for the Budget Committee and town meeting. Major funding propositions are in the works because the landfill needs significant expansion and improvements. The committee was instructed to seek planning grants for those programs.

In other news, the disposal fee for large tires was increased to $10 and the fee for Freon from air conditioners was increased to $20.

– Kenneth Roberts
Turner: Public hearing is Jan. 3

A public hearing will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Boofy Quimby Memorial Center on the town’s $100,000 request for an Economic Development Grant to provide accessibility improvements and an addition to the center.

Frequent users of the community facility such as senior citizens, boy and girl scouts, snowmobilers, Turner Athletic Association, are encouraged to attend the hearing to boost the town’s chances of receiving the grant, which would be blended with $84,000 of town money already committed to the project.

– Kenneth Roberts

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