MINOT – The town passed the first test of winter, Road Manager Arlan Saunders told selectmen Monday night, but did so at the expense of a surprisingly large portion of a once ample sand pile.

Saunders estimated his crew spread between 800 and 900 cubic yards of the 6,000 yards of salted sand put up for the season. Workers also scattered another 65 tons of salt dealing with the mess that came in last Thursday.

He said he had calls for trucks from law enforcement officials every night since Thursday for spot sanding to take care of black ice that motorists kept discovering.

Saunders noted that the road crew was able to keep all roads open and the town could be thankful that power outages due to ice were limited to short stretches of Brighton Hill, Death Valley, Millett and York roads.

He said clearing the drain under the parking lot behind the town office appears to have cured the flooding problem in the town office basement.

Saunders also said a 32-foot fiberglass extension ladder, valued at between $200 and $300, was stolen from the town garage. Law enforcement officials have been notified.

Selectman Steve French said test results on water supplied to the Minot Consolidated School show that the newly installed filtration system is doing its job: Arsenic levels are comfortably within levels allowed for public drinking water.

Town Clerk Angeliec Goulding announced that nomination papers for two selectmen’s seats are available at the town office. Townspeople will vote Friday, March 6, to fill seats held by Dean Campbell and Dan Callahan Jr. Nomination papers must be returned to the town office by Jan. 26 in order for candidate’s names to appear on the March 6 ballot.

In other business, selectmen approved a warrant for the Jan. 27 election of five people to serve as directors of the newly formed Regional School Unit 16. Voting on that day will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. with absentee balloting to start Dec. 29.

Selectmen also agreed to close the Town Office on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25 and 26; however the office will be open for customary hours Wednesday, Dec. 24.