The office is currently in an administrative building of the old Marcal Paper Mill complex.
By Winslow Durgin
Special to the Sun Journal

MINOT – School Union 29 is eyeing a parcel of land in Minot as a potential location for the Union 29 central office, according to a letter brought before selectmen Monday night.

The letter, from Union 29 Support Service Director Frank D’Agostino, asked selectmen whether they were interested in having the superintendent’s office moved to the two acres at Shaw Hill and Woodman Hill roads.

The town purchased the land next to Minot Consolidated School about five years ago for possible use as athletic fields. That was before two much larger parcels, totaling 73 acres and located adjacent to the school also, became available. The 73 acres was purchased two years ago and it is this land that has been identified as more suitable for future athletic fields.

Selectmen agreed to respond with a letter to D’Agostino indicating their willingness to talk particulars with representatives of the school union about how the parcel could fit school needs.

The Union 29 central office is currently housed in an administrative building of the old Marcal Paper Mill complex in Mechanic Falls. Earlier this summer, the union’s plans to purchase that building were put on hold when the building’s physical problems became evident, specifically a foundation that was in questionable shape and the appearance of a mold problem.

Selectman Eda Tripp told the board that letters are going out this week to property owners with the new assessments as prepared by O’Donnell and Associates.

The letters will tell property owners how much their properties are being valued at for tax purposes. There will be no information on how much this year’s tax rate will be or what the taxes will be.

Property owners will be given an opportunity to meet with representatives from O’Donnell’s should they have any questions with their new valuations.

It is only after property owners have had a chance to challenge the new figures, should they find them in error, that town officials can set the tax rate based on the town’s new property value.

Tripp said that tax bills should be going out Oct. 17.

Selectmen acknowledged receipt of a petition from Grange Avenue residents who would like the town to pave their road.

Grange Avenue resident Albert “Blinky” Greenwood noted that all 21 property owners on the road had signed the petition, and they felt it was time the town finally addressed their concerns.

Selectmen directed road manager Arlan Saunders to prepare cost estimates for paving Grange Avenue and to present it, along with other estimates, for consideration during budget discussions in preparation for the March town meeting.

Saunders gave selectmen results of the bids he received for winter sand. Selectmen agreed to go with Albert Hemond’s offer to supply sand at the pit for $1.95 a cubic yard and authorized Saunders to seek bids on trucking the sand to the town garage.

Saunders also reported that the remaining portion of Pottle Hill Road scheduled for re-pavement this summer will be paved next week. The section, located from Verrill to Goodwin roads, was not paved earlier because of delays in having a utility pole relocated.