KINGFIELD — Taxpayers will see a lower bill in the mail for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Selectmen on Tuesday lowered the tax rate from $17.50 to $17 per $1,000 of assessed property value. They agreed unanimously that the lower rate represents a commitment to maintain a healthy surplus for unforeseen financial needs, while providing a break for property owners.

In other matters, John Goldfrank, a new member of the Village Enhancement Committee, presented some of the proposals and concerns raised at their last meeting.

Goldfrank, along with Merv Wilson, newly appointed as chairman, and several other committee members met with Jon Edgerton of Topsham-based Wright-Pierce engineering firm to walk along Main Street and discuss a plan to add more streetlights.

“This could happen before 2019,” Goldfrank said, referring to a long-anticipated Maine Department of Transportation road reconstruction plan through the downtown.

Village Enhancement Committee proposals must blend well with plans for the 2019 reconstruction of Route 27, which will start farther south and move north of Main Street. MDOT expects to share some of the improvement costs with the town.

A town Road Reconstruction Committee chaired by David Guernsey has worked with the MDOT and developed plans over several years to improve sidewalk access, crosswalk and intersection safety, as well as adding public parking.

Guernsey is not on the Village Enhancement Committee, but said he was happy to see the renewed enthusiasm and revitalized membership after several long-serving members resigned recently.

Committee members asked that selectmen consider the possibilities of these additional unobtrusive fixtures that wouldn’t light the night sky and change the aesthetics of the area.

Goldfrank noted that the voters at the 2004 town meeting agreed that street lighting was a goal, fitting into the improved pedestrian-friendly village section. Added lighting could reduce safety concerns, especially in winter weather, and would encourage people to do more walking and more shopping.

Moody suggested that everyone review wording of the original Village Enhancement plan approved by taxpayers to be sure they were following well-defined townwide goals. Improving town sidewalks didn’t guarantee that new lighting could be added to the list of expenses.

Goldfrank said the committee is working hard to draft other improvements for approval. One would be creating a gravel parking lot near the Sno-Wanderers Snowmobile Club’s sled shed area at the south end of town.

“We have a tagline already,” he said. “We’re leaning toward calling this “Gateway Parking.”

The parking lot would serve the many recreational visitors, as well as those attending special events, like the recent Civil War re-enactment during Kingfield Festival Days.

Another parking area, far from the wastewater treatment plant, could benefit the town in many ways. During the winter, the field and hill draw people for sledding parties, and during other seasons, the lot would provide parking for those looking for a place to walk along the Carrabassett River. Currently, people park on the field and even drive vehicles across the field.

Rather than erecting a fence to prevent vehicle access to parts of the field, the committee proposes placing boulders at intervals.

Two contractors also have offered to provide the gravel in exchange for taking an equal amount of loam from the field. 

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