TURNER – In the spring, when Gene Jordan did not comply with the town’s latest cleanup order for his junkyard on the banks of the Nezinscot River, the town instituted court proceedings. The court ordered the cleanup to be largely completed by Nov. 30.

According to officials and neighbors, that may not happen and a contempt order would be lodged if it does not.

“You can still see at least 20 junk cars” when driving by, Town Manager Jim Catlin told selectmen.

Officials have discussed options with the town’s attorney and may consider condemnation proceedings. The town has more than $80,000 in liens against the property.

Apartment building sold to city

LEWISTON – The city will buy a 23-unit Canal Street apartment building to make way for part of the lower Lisbon Street redevelopment.

Councilors inked a deal to purchase the apartment building at 480-482 Canal St. from owner Ray Frechette Jr. for $735,000 plus another $108,000 in heating and relocation expenses and incentives to help current tenants move.

Frechette called the deal traumatic. The building has been in his family for 30 years and he would prefer not to sell.

“But the threat of eminent domain is very real, and I don’t want to go through that,” Frechette said. “I don’t want to sell it, but you do what you have to do when you don’t have a choice.”

Frechette said he currently has 18 tenants.

The apartment building would come down as part of the next phase for a parking lot.

Fire station eyed for activity center

WOODSTOCK – The Recreation Committee got the go-ahead from selectmen Tuesday to begin converting the town’s old fire station on Railroad Street into a community recreation and activity center.

Recreation Committee Chairman John Fitzmorris presented a breakdown of the costs, which would total approximately $24,000.

“This is only a rough estimate and it’s possible that it will be lower after we get exact quotes on some of the materials. The figures in our plan are only estimates because we’re waiting to hear from several companies with exact quotes on the heating system, chimney, plumbing, electric and septic,” said Fitzmorris, “When those figures are in, we will have a more accurate total.”

SAD 17 addressing fourth-grade gaps

OXFORD – High school students in SAD 17 were much closer to the state average on test scores than fourth-graders in last year’s Maine Educational Assessment testing.

“It looks like our kids do worse in the fourth grade and by the 11th grade they catch up,” SAD 17 board member Mike Brown noted during a report on the 2002-03 scores by Curriculum Director Kathy Elkins.

Elkins confirmed Brown’s observation, and said the district has been busy revising fourth-grade curriculums to meet the challenge.

“They are not overly stellar scores,” Elkins said. When compared with three-year averages, however, the scores for fourth-, eighth- and 11th-graders are essentially the same, she added.

Treatment plant fix-up under budget

WILTON – Two major pieces of equipment have been replaced at the town’s Waste Treatment Plant in nearly half the time projected, said the plant superintendent. Preliminary figures show that the project is about 10 percent under budget.

Plant Superintendent Russ Mathers said two rotating biological contractors were installed in 8.25 days rather than the 15 days that had been estimated.

The project was to replace old equipment with two new 22-foot shafts and media, a plastic material where microorganisms are housed to treat wastewater. Preliminary calculations, Mathers said, show that the project cost about $15,000 less than the $150,000 projected.

Each of the shafts weighs 3.5 tons, he said, and full of the plastic media and microorganisms, it weighs about 10 tons. Once the plastic is installed on the shafts, the wheel is about 10-feet in diameter.

Bates Mill deal discussed

LEWISTON – Jim Bennett’s Bates Mill exit strategy could cost as much as $59.2 million over the next seven years, the city administrator told councilors.

That’s how much existing contracts and agreements with developer Tom Platz will cost the city if nothing changes. Any plan to get the city out of those contracts can’t help but save money, Bennett said.

“That is the amount we are obligated to spend right now, for the next few years,” Bennett said. “But if we can negotiate a deal to even save $1 million of that, that’s a better deal.”

Bennett continues making his case for the city to disentangle itself from the Bates Mill Enterprise Complex. The final deal could be made public by the council’s next meeting on Nov. 18, he said.

Tax bills likely to increase

MINOT – Selectmen set the 2003 Minot property tax rate at 16.5 mills.

The rate is down from last year’s 23.3 mills. That doesn’t mean taxes are going down.

Rather, the new rate reflects a recently completed townwide property revaluation. While the rate is down, valuations rose significantly. Very likely, taxes will be higher.

Selectman Eda Tripp pointed out that in March’s town meeting voters approved a large increase in spending. County tax was up more than $17,000, and $180,000 more was raised for schools.

The town side of the budget was up $71,000, compared with the previous year.

“For anyone who is upset with their tax bill, I offer a personal invitation to them to attend next March town meeting,” said Selectman Dean Campbell.

Principal leaving Harrison Elementary

HARRISON – Two years ago, Walter Wallace became the leader of a school with problems.

Low reading, writing and math test scores had earned Harrison Elementary a spot on the state’s “priority list” for failing to meet standards.

Now the once-failing school is regarded as one of the best in the SAD 17 system. And many people credit Wallace with the change.

Wallace has taken another job. He’s leaving Harrison to head an elementary school in Brunswick.

“That’s disappointing news for us,” said SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman, who oversees Oxford-area schools. “It’s great news for Brunswick. He’s just been a gem.”

Contract set for sludge removal

FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted to enter into a five-year contract for sludge removal from the town’s sewage treatment plant.

The bid was awarded to New England Organics for $44,300 a year. After the first year, the contract price is subject to increases based on the consumer price index.

The board accepted Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Steve Moore’s recommendation to go with the company. The company transports the bio-solids, also known as sludge to Unity, according to Moore’s memo to selectmen.

They have the option of land spreading on “our sites,” Moore said, or composting at Hawk Ridge Compost Facility.

Although the company’s price is $5 a yard more for land spreading, Moore stated, the cost of composting will offset it.

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