LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted unanimously to back the purchase of a snowmobile by the Jug Hill Riders Snowmobile Club, contingent upon voters’ approval.

Selectmen made the decision Feb. 17 after hearing from club President Tim Fournier.

The intent is to put the proposed purchase on a warrant article for a special town meeting, which is expected to include a vote on funding the demolition of a “dangerous” building on Main Street.

Instead of returning about $1,200 each year in excise taxes generated by snowmobile registrations to the club, the town will keep the money toward the club’s loan, interim Town Manager Kristal Flagg said.

The club initially talked with former Town Manager Martin Puckett about the town underwriting a loan to buy a snow groomer last May.

However, Fournier said club members have since purchased a groomer for the trails.

But the club also has two older snowmobiles used to groom feeder trails and is asking the town to purchase a new one then repay the town for it.

It was done in 1998, Fournier said, and it was successfully paid back in two years instead of the four initially estimated.

The snowmobile they’re looking at is valued at more than $10,000, he said, but a dealer has one that it is willing to sell for $8,500.

The club has applied for three grants and are looking at a sizable amount of money coming in, if they are approved, Fournier said.

“We’re not looking for a gift. We’re not looking for a handout,” he said. “We’re self-sufficient. We’re looking to borrow money … If the town buys it, we don’t have to pay sales tax. It would save us $500.”

They are willing to put money down on the machine so they would have to borrow less, Fournier said.

Selectman Bill Demaray said the town has underwritten loans in the past for snowmachines and the arrangement has worked well.

The club maintains a branch of the statewide ITS trail system, which brings snowmobilers into town who stop for food, gas and other services, Fournier said.

Fournier said recently he saw 75 to 85 snowmobiles stopped at Pike’s Corner Oasis.

All the board can do, Demaray said, is give assurance to the club that would support the purchase to the voters.