LEWISTON – Election Superintendent Jane Heikkinen has announced that the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District held election on Nov. 9 for a three-year and a two-year term board of supervisor position beginning Jan. 1.

Heikkinen said, “The board of supervisors of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are the managing directors of their districts, and as such are responsible for the business affairs and operations, as well as conducting programs on the conservation of soil, water and related natural resources and proper land use.

“Their authorities come from the Maine Soil and Water Conservation Districts Act, Title 12, Maine Revised Statues, Annotated. Boards of supervisors are public officials, and their actions and records are always open to public inquiry.”

John A. Hemond of Minot will fill a three-year position. Hemond has served as supervisor from 1983 to the present. In addition to serving as chairman of the Androscoggin Valley supervisors (1986 to 2004), he has served as president of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts.

He addressed nutrient management issues and concerns, and facilitated the partnership with Maine Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as Natural Resources Conservation Service. He also participated in obtaining a substantial funding increase for districts throughout Maine for watershed improvement projects, as well as general funding needs.

Hemond also serves on the Farm Services Agency county committee and is a member of Twin County Dairy Herd Insemination Committee and Farm Bureau. The Hemond family was recognized as Outstanding Conservation Farmers in 1990. In 1987 the family was awarded the Green Pasture Award as Maine Dairy Family of the Year. Hemond continues to demonstrate sound land use practices with a diversity of applied conservation practices.

Arthur Dunlap of Poland has been elected to the board for a two-year term. Dunlap served for the last year as an associate supervisor and was appointed to fill the position vacated by Clinton Fox in July.

Dunlap was born in Farmington and raised in Auburn. He has worked for the town of Poland as code enforcement officer since 1998. He holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maine and has taken several additional undergraduate and graduate courses in business.

He also is a member of the Poland Historical Society and Poland Preservation Society. Dunlap also belongs to the Masons, Eastern Star and Shriners.

As CEO of Poland, Dunlap has been instrumental in directing people to seek out technical assistance provided by the conservation district.

He has seen rapid growth in Poland in recent years, stating, “People want to go to the country. We have a beautiful town, with several lakes, and people like what they see.” Dunlap hopes his experience in municipal governance and planning will serve to strengthen the conservation district.


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