LIVERMORE — Selectpersons have approved applying for a $400,000 loan from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to build a sand and salt shed.

The town is on a state list of municipalities where salt is leaching into the ground. Without a new shed, the town will lose its contamination waiver and be required to get a DEP license.

At last year’s annual town meeting, voters authorized spending $20,000 for engineering and design of the shed, but did not approve spending up to $265,000 to build one. A straw poll indicated they did not want a canvas shed.

The loan is being sought now so the money will be available should voters approve it in June. Voters will also decide on a design at that time.

Earlier this month, the board learned an arch-style building would cost about $400,000, about $100,000 more than expected.

Other designs were considered, including arch and scissor truss, but selectpersons chose the arch style based on information from Scott Braley of Plymouth Engineers. He met with the board last fall and estimated either of those designs would cost $300,000. The arch design materials cost more, but it would be cheaper to build. The truss design requires more construction technique and methodology, he said.

At a recent board meeting, Chairperson Peter Castonguay presented an estimate of $87,000 to install a canvas building, but it would not include ground work and concrete.

On Tuesday, Selectperson Tom Gould presented an estimate of $264,000 for a canvas building from Sanford-based Rubb Inc. That amount doesn’t include asphalt, which is recommended.

Tek Supply, using a lighter-weight fabric, gave an estimate of $156,665.

And General Steel gave an estimate of $120,000 for a 150- by 100-foot, three-sided steel building.

Gould said with the price spread, all options should be kept on the table.

“We won’t know actual costs until the project is put out to bid,” Selectperson Tim Kachnovich said.

In an email, Braley told Administrative Assistant Carrie Castonguay that changing a few design decisions could cut costs.

A low-interest construction loan through the DEP requires hiring an engineer, among other commitments. The Maine Department of Transportation would reimburse about 37 percent of the cost.

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