WOODSTOCK – Selectmen on Tuesday awarded a contract for plowing and sanding roads in the eastern part of town to Thornton Farms in South Rumford, the only bidder.
Town manager and Road Commissioner Vern Maxfield said the decision eliminates the need for the highway crew to drive across two towns to reach the back side of the Billings Hill Road and a section of road from the Milton Township line to the Farnum residence.
“The selectmen agreed to pay Thornton his bid of $4,200 for his maintaining those sections of road,” he said, “because that will be a lot less than it would cost our crew to drive over there this winter, especially with the cost of fuel today.”
The winter sand contract went to R.A. Tibbetts Excavating of Wilton for $7 per cubic yard, an increase of $2.75 per yard. Maxfield said officials expected the higher price.
Selectmen and highway foreman Randy Eastman decided to lower the order to 2,500 yards from 3,000 yards to save $3,500. The town has between 500 and 600 yards left from last winter.
“If this winter is worse than usual we will just have to try to find more sand to keep us going in late winter and early spring,” Maxfield said.
Fire Chief Geff Inman reported that the fire station and town office complex will be ready for any emergency this winter because the department is setting up shelter facilities there now. He said the generator is ready, along with cots, blankets, food, water and other essentials.
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