Dubious grants

To the Editor:
   We want to encourage all residents in the 16 towns of Piscataquis County to attend the next County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, May 19th at 8:30 a.m. at the County court complex, in the finance building, on East Maine St., Dover-Foxcroft.

   The commissioners are considering grants for two small business owners in the Unorganized Territory as presented by Ken Woodbury last November. One grant, for David and Luisa Surprenant of Abol Bridge LLC, is to expand their campgrounds for $120,000, and another grant, for Maine Highlands Sugarworks LLC, where the applicant must be low- to moderate-income for $50,000.
   The problem with these grants is the fact that because they are in the unorganized territories, the county of Piscataquis, according to state law, must apply for the grants which would then be distributed to the business owners. The county, according to Woodbury, “will be on the hook for the money,” and the county will also have to do the accounting for the grants to make sure the monies are spent properly. Woodbury also stated he would have the applicants sign an agreement that they would be responsible — not the county — and we say that this agreement is “ not worth the paper it is written on.”
   We are a poor rural county with an 11.5 percent unemployment rate and only 15,000 residents and we cannot be responsible for a total of $170,000 in dubious grants — for which the county would be obligated.
   The county commissioners are supposed to represent all of the people and this is not in the best interest of the people of Piscataquis County.
   We urge everyone that has a concern to attend this meeting of your county commissioners on Tuesday, May 19th at 8:30.a.m.

Bob and Gail Lynch
Sebec