Otisfield board discusses deteriorating Grange Hall

OTISFIELD — Selectmen agreed the former Grange Hall on Gore Road is dangerous and are taking steps to ensure it does not pose a threat to others.

The vacant building, at the corner of Bonney Hill and Gore roads, is made of cement blocks. A crack the length of the building occurred on the western side, which has begun to protrude. The owner has not answered a letter of concern by the board.

The Board of Selectmen asked Code Enforcement Officer Richard St. John at Wednesday night’s meeting to send a second certified letter to the owner of the former Grange Hall on Gore Road to advise her the board wants permission to go on the property to more closely investigate the deteriorating condition of the building.

Unlike most area Grange halls, this one was built out of cinder blocks, which are cracking and shifting. The board is concerned the building will simply collapse, but St. John said he needs to measure the extent of the protrusion of some of the blocks before he can accurately determine the likelihood of a collapse.

The board said they are not sure where the owner, Melinda Ware, lives. The certified mail regarding the matter was addressed in care of a resident in Poland.

In other news, the board also met with a resident to continue discussion about creating an ATV club in town. A public hearing is expected to be scheduled in November to get community input on the request to access public roads.

The board scheduled a community hearing at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Community Hall on Route 121 to discuss the growing problem of heroin trafficking and use in the area.

Jason Wing of the Maine State Police will be on hand to talk about the issue with concerned residents.

The board is scheduled to meet at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 27 to open bids for the Cobb Hill Road construction project. The project will be done to correct serious water drainage and erosion issues on the road.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net