Dover-Foxcroft selectmen set 2017-18 mill rate at $20.90

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The selectmen set the tax committment for the 2017-18 fiscal year during a July 10 meeting, with the mill rate rising 65 cents from the year before to a rate of $20.90 per $1,000 in assessed property. The mill rate is comprised of approximately $9.79 for town operations, $9.62 for Dover-Foxcroft’s share of the RSU 68 budget, and the other $1.48 is for the Piscataquis County spending plan.

Town Manager Jack Clukey said if the state government shutdown had not been resolved by the July 10 meeting then the selectmen would not have been able to set the tax committment that evening. “We are proposing a mill rate this year at $20.90, compared to last year’s rate of $20.25 so an increase of $0.65,” he said.

He said the reason for the higher mill rate is the Homestead Exemption increased from $15,000 to $20,000. When asked, Clukey said this equals about $40,000 less in revenue for the municipality.

In other business, the selectmen approved a near $288,000 bid by B&B Paving, Inc. of Hermon for road work over the ensuing few months.

“(Consultant) Gorrill Palmer, who has worked with us on the paving plan and the paving project, has gone through the numbers,” Clukey said. “Gorrill Palmer has no hesitation we accept the paving bid from B&B.”

The Hermon business’ bid was the lowest of four, which were at about $304,000, $375,000, and $513,700.

“Why is there such diversity in the bids?,” Freeman Cyr asked.

Clukey said a possible reason was the smaller size of the firms with the two lowest bids. “We can get a lot more work done with that kind of savings,” he said.

“We are going to see Winter Street, Park Street from North Street to where the pavement changes, part of Grove Street, we have got Shaw Road, we have got the East Dover Road, we have got Morton Avenue right here,” the town manager said about roads scheduled for paving this year. He said additional upgrades include a portion of Spring Street where water collects near the intersection with Summer Street, as well as a potholed section of Sanford Street where the travelway meets West Main Street.

“I like the fact there’s a road in pretty much every section of town, nobody gets left out,” Selectman Steve Grammonts said.

In his report, Clukey said a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) microenterprise grant application seeking up to $50,000 submitted by the town on behalf of the Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen on West Main Street for business upgrades was not funded in the current round of the program.

He said Piscataquis County Economic Development Council Executive Director Chris Winstead would be meeting with Department of Economic and Community Development representatives to see how the application can be improved if the documentation is to be submitted in a future round. Clukey said a half dozen applications for Piscataquis County businesses were submitted and none were awarded funding.

The town manager said Foxcroft Academy has organized volunteer efforts to conduct improvements to the basketball court on Moosehead Lane behind the Congregational Church. Clukey said the playing surface has been redone and painted, and on-going fixes include the fencing, backboards and backboard structures.

“There’s a huge amount going on so it’s just a matter of coordinating volunteers, people have been stepping up,” Clukey said. He said the court will be available for use by the public, and Foxcroft Academy is looking to host Penquis Valley High School in a boys summer league game on the outdoor court later in the month.

“Just a few years ago we were talking about taking it down, so this is great,” Freeman Cyr said.

Clukey said another future recreational opportunity could be a disc golf course at the Browns Mill Park along the Piscataquis River. He said the recreation committee heard a project proposal from resident Josh Conroy.

The town manager said the committee was receptive to the concept and the consensus was that a disc golf course be set up to avoid crossing the main walking trail and have portable equipment in case anything needs to be moved.

“It’s still something he needs to fundraise for, he needs to get the discs and baskets so it’s something we may have next summer,” Clukey said about Conroy’s efforts.

When asked who could use a disc golf course at Browns Mill Park Clukey said, “Anybody that wants to, it’s free.” He added, “It would be something self sufficient to get people outside.”

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SPRUCING UP THE TOWN BASKETBALL COURT — Foxcroft Academy officials have organized volunteer efforts to fix up the town-owned basketball court behind the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church. The playing surface has been redone and painted, and the fencing and backboards are being upgraded. The Foxcroft Academy boys basketball team is looking to host Penquis Valley High School on the court in a summer league game later in the month.