Board: Minot Selectmen

Met: Monday night

Town Office closing

Issue: The computers at the town office are being upgraded with new software.

The Scoop: Selectmen approved closing the office Wednesday, June 10. Northern Data Systems is to remove the mainframe at the close of office hours on Tuesday and return it Thursday morning with time for office personnel to have a training session before the office opens at Thursday’s regular 2 p.m. starting time.

Hiking trails

Issue: A critical part of the development of the town’s 160-acre Minot Memorial Park is a network of walking trails that link the old ball fields, the town office, the Minot Consolidated School and the new ball fields.

The Scoop: Town Administrator Arlan Saunders reported that he is preparing the bid for the next section of hiking trails. Because funding is provided through the Maine Recreational Trail Grant Program, the bid package must be approved by the Department of Conservation before sending it out. The bid winner will be constructing 1,700 feet of walking trail – 850 feet of the All For Fun Trail and 850 of the Dug Out Trail – that will complete a loop from the town office to the old ball fields.

Cemetery stumping bid

Issue: The town is expanding the Center Minot Hill Cemetery.

The Scoop: Selectmen accepted the bid by Washburn & Son Excavating of Minot to stump and level the three acre parcel for $2,450. Washburn’s bid was the lowest of 14 received by selectmen.

New culverts

Issue: The town is replacing dozens of road culverts this summer.

The Scoop: Town Administrator Arlan Saunders reported that Ferguson Waterworks of South Portland has delivered this year’s supply in plenty of time for the summer’s road work. Saunders said the allocation of 60 culverts, which range from 1 to 3 feet in diameter, is a little smaller than some years, an indication that the town is getting caught up in its effort to replace bad and failing culverts.

Field fencing

Issue: The new softball field in Minot Memorial Park is being fenced this summer.

The Scoop: Double “T” fence company of Oxford has started the installation. The new baseball field won’t be fenced until later this summer. In March, voters allocated $55,000 to finish and fence the two fields. The soccer field in the new section of Minot Memorial Park is already in use.

– Winslow Durgin

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