SANDY RIVER PLANTATION – A majority of the 32 voters at the annual town meeting on June 25 approved transferring funds to rebuild Saddleback Mountain Access Road.

The transfer of $27,852 to the summer roads account was one of the 59 articles addressed.

The funds for the access road include $5,352 from the Department of Transportation account, $22,021 from the vehicle registration account and $479 from the boat excise account. The summer roads account for fiscal year 2004 has a balance of $76,837. In addition, voters appropriated an additional $20,000 for the summer roads account to ensure adequate funds for two major projects.

The summer roads account also must cover the plantation’s share of the reconstruction of the Saddleback Mountain Access Road. The access road traverses Dallas Plantation and Sandy River Plantation before it dead-ends at Saddleback Mountain. Under the grant proposal, Sandy River Plantation’s share would be $55,000.

The cost breakdown of the 4.6-mile reconstruction project is as follows: $500,000, or 50 percent, from Maine Department of Transportation; $250,000, or 25 percent, from Saddleback Mountain Corp.; $195,000, or 19.5 percent, from Dallas Plantation; and $55,000, or 5.5 percent, from Sandy River Plantation.

The project funding was also approved by Dallas Plantation at its town meeting, also held on June 25. The summer roads account will also fund gravel work on the Edelheid Road estimated to cost $55,400.

Voters also approved two increases in public safety expenses for the coming year. The ambulance appropriation was $23,545, which is up $13,670 over the current fiscal year. The Rangeley Fire Department, which provides fire protection for Sandy River, was given $17,974, up $4,819.

Voters decided to purchase house numbers for the approximately 326 homes in Sandy River, at a cost of $1,310, as part of the enhanced 911 program.

The proposed school budget for 2004-05 was $128,542, which was funded with $52,779 from the current fiscal year, $9,000 from reserved lands funds, $3,963 from educational subsidies, and $62,800 approved by voters on the recommendation of the Budget Committee .

Residents also approved an increase in salaries for the following town officers: first assessor $24,200, up $2,200; second assessor, $500, up $150; third assessor, $500, up $150; and treasurer/tax collector, $11,302, up $1,092.

First assessor Evelyn Wing, second assessor Harold Spiller, and third assessor Holman Ferguson were all re-elected for the 2004-05 fiscal year.

The plantation voted to support requests from the following organizations and causes: Western Mountain Shrine, $250; Rangeley Health Center, $1,500; Rangeley Chamber of Commerce, $1,000; Rangeley Snowmobile Club, $2,000; Rangeley Library, $5,900; Androscoggin Home Health, $85; Milfoil Awareness, $935; American Legion Post 120 Memorial Day Observance, $150; Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association, $150; Cross Country Ski Trails, $1,500; Rangeley Region Logging Museum, $200; and the Rangeley Region Round Table, $4,000.

Voters did not approve a $93 request by the American Red Cross or a $400 request by United Cerebral Palsy.

Copy the Story Link