CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Approximately 30 residents attended a special meeting Wednesday at the Anti-Gravity Center and approved two loans to complete the golf course clubhouse.

The clubhouse committee asked residents to approve two loans, one for $100,000 and the other for $67,000, to complete the golf course clubhouse, which has already cost the town $800,000 for construction.

John Beaupre, chair of the golf course committee, asked residents to support the two articles for “amenities to make the golf club a world-class course,” he said.

The proposal for $100,000 included funding for a practice putting green, a metal roof, screened porch and completion of the basement. Also included in that amount was $20,000 in contingency funds. The second article asked voters to approve a loan of $67,000 for lawn irrigation, completion of a member locker room, stone fireplace, granite steps and a commercial sprinkler system – items deemed by the committee to be of lower priority.

Voters wanted to know what happened to the original budget.

Town Manager Dave Cota said that building costs have increased significantly since voters approved the initial budget for the clubhouse in December.

Selectman Bob Luce agreed, saying the committee knew that the original budget was going to be tight.

Original specifications for the building included plans for a residential sprinkler system, not a commercial one as the committee requested Wednesday. Nor did it include a central heating and air conditioning system.

Cota said that the committee initially chose to put a residential sprinkler system in the building at a cost of $23,000, though it was not required by law. The commercial system would be a safety improvement, said Fire Chief Courtney Knapp.

However, Cota admitted, the enhanced sprinkler system, costing an additional $21,000, would not decrease current insurance rates. The town has a blanket insurance policy covering all buildings as a block.

“Don’t we owe it to ourselves as taxpayers to protect our assets that we own?” asked the fire chief.

Voters eventually approved the $100,000 article, but there was additional discussion on the “lower priority” items.

“We’ve already approved $900,000, we might as well just approve it,” said resident Stan Tingley. “And don’t ever come back again,” he added, garnering a laugh from attendees.

“I’m still not comfortable with the contingency; it’s too low,” said Selectman Lloyd Cutler. “A $20,000 contingency is too thin.”

Stephen Pierce, another selectman, said he wanted to go on record as opposing the proposal to finish the locker room, saying the club is not member-driven.

Beaupre assured voters that the committee was more confident of the proposed costs to finish the project, saying they did not have the consultation of a contractor with the initial proposal as they do now.

Cota urged voters to support the committee to do what it needs to do.

And they did, voting to pass the second article as well.