Milo officials looking at land use ordinance

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

    MILO — For the last several months, the selectmen have been discussing a proposed land use ordinance. During a meeting on an April 21, a question from the public asked about the purpose of such an ordinance.
    “One of the problems is people need to make an investment in their community and have their investment protected,” Selectman Jerry Brown said, mentioning he is working with Milo’s attorney on the document on a daily basis. “This is just the business of putting it into districts and what you can do there.”

    Brown said a possible public hearing on the land use ordinance was being considered for mid-May, but such a session will now likely be held at a later time when the ordinance is closer to completion. The selectmen are looking to hold a work session with the planning board and board of appeals, which will be open to the public and will be posted seven days prior to the meeting date.
    When asked about the related legal costs, Brown estimated $4,000 to $5,000 which includes a professionally-developed map of Milo.
In other business, a special town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5 before the next selectmen’s meeting at 6:30 p.m.
    “At our last special town meeting we voted for that $150,000 and the wording was not exactly correct, so we have to vote on it again,” Select Chair Lee McMannus said.
    Earlier in the month, voters authorized the board to accept a $150,000 state grant for a carry-in boating facility on Maine-owned land in Derby, accessing the lower Sebec, Pleasant and Piscataquis rivers. The grant includes the town providing in-kind matching funds, such as materials and labor to finish the project through the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year.
    McMannus said getting all of the work done will be a challenge, with the town also working on its normal public works projects along with handling other situations that inevitably arise. “It is a legitimate concern,” he said. “Just trying to take a step forward is what it boils down to.”
    When asked about other grants being pursued, McMannus said he was not aware of any other than those being sought by the fire department to help purchase necessary equipment such as turnout gear.
    McMannus also mentioned he has received calls concerning the 21 West Main Street property by the Sebec River. “Until we get this land use ordinance, because it has to do with shoreland zoning, I don’t think we should put it out to bid until we know what can be done with the land,” he said.
    Police Chief and Interim Town Manager Damien Pickel gave reports from both of his current positions. He said through a grant awarded to Piscataquis County, the Milo Police Department received $2,300.
    “We needed optics for the rifles that we have,” Pickel said about how some the grant funds were utilized. He said these pieces of equipment cost around $700, but Brett Kirschbaum of Dragonz Den Armory was able to locate optics at a cost of approximately $500 apiece.
    “So we saved some money there,” Pickel said in thanking Kirschbaum. The chief said other grant monies will purchase a taser and radio batteries and a narcotics field test kit.
    Pickel said next month, possibly on a Tuesday evening when the selectmen do not meet, he is looking to hold a session for residents and others to come and ask questions of the police department.
    During his town manager’s report, Pickel said recently he drove by the Milo Veteran’s Memorial and saw Ronnie Knowles working hard raking the site. Pickel said he stopped and asked Knowles if he needed help and was told he did.
    Pickel then called Penquis Valley High School, knowing students need community service hours, and passed on a message to Principal Jeremy Bousquet. Soon after Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) Specialist Shannon Bishop was out there with her JMG kids,” Pickel said. “They knocked it out in two days.”
    He added, “I think it’s fantastic, I never expected the turnout that they did.”