By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MINOT – Members of the town’s Recreation Committee told selectmen Monday night that volunteers made remarkable progress this weekend building an access road to the proposed recreation area next to the Minot Consolidated School.

“On Saturday, work started at 7 a.m. Eleven contractors were on site, working equipment and driving trucks. It was a dynamite success, a great day of the community coming together,” said spokeswoman Candace Benwitz.

She said two dozers, three excavators, one or two dump trucks, one roller and one backhoe were operating at the site, with another seven to eight dump trucks hauling in from off site. About 2,000 cubic yards of material were used, including 1,000 cubic yards trucked in from Pike’s, Rowe’s and Rita’s Pizzas’ pits.

By 4 p.m., Benwitz said, the 42 volunteers on hand had installed a culvert through the low spot and built some 1,500 feet of road.

Another 17 volunteers prepared food for those working in the field.

“Rough figures are that we have accomplished $25,000 worth of work,” said Benwitz, adding that the committee has spent about $7,700 of the $8,700 the town had received from the sale of wood harvested on the land.

In addition to building the access road, volunteers have also made excellent progress removing stumps from about three acres of future play field that lie beyond the culvert.

Selectmen declined to become directly involved in giving the field area a name when Lisa Cesare advised them that the Recreation Committee had narrowed the choice of a name for the complex down to about three.

“If the rec committee came up with a name and we absolutely despise it, there might be a problem, but I don’t see that happening,” said Selectman Dean Campbell.

The board agreed, joining Campbell in thanking the Recreation Committee for handling the project so well.

In his report, Road Manager Arlan Saunders noted that, earlier in the day, his crew had mulched areas along the recreation field road that were in need of seeding.

“If they need additional areas done, we would be glad to mulch them in,” said Saunders.

Saunders also reported that shoulder work has been completed on Pottle Hill Road and that the other roads paved this summer – Brighton Hill, Center Minot Hill and Cross roads – will have shoulder work done as the week progresses.

In other business, selectmen authorized signing an automatic mutual aid agreement with Auburn for firefighting services and set Sept. 26 for a public hearing on a cable television ordinance for the town. The public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. in the Town Office. After the hearing, selectmen intend to vote on the ordinance.

Town Administrator Rhonda Irish advised selectmen that a copy of the town’s updated comprehensive plan has been sent to Augusta for review. The state, Irish explained, has 65 days to complete its review. A public hearing on the updated plan will be held in February and townspeople will vote on adoption of the plan at March’s town meeting.

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