Minot's new truck expected next week

MINOT — Town Administrator Arlan Saunders told selectmen Monday that the new one-ton truck for the Highway Department has been built and is on its way to O’Connor in Augusta for final preparations. It should be ready for delivery by the end of next week.

The purchase was approved at the March town meeting for $32,000, with trade-in of the old one-ton truck.

Also Monday, selectmen accepted ECI Materials’ bid for 3,000 cubic yards of three-quarter-inch crushed gravel at $11.75 per yard, delivered. The South Paris company’s bid was the lowest of three and was $7,700 less than the next lowest.

The crushed stone will be used to build sections of Death Valley Road in preparation for paving this summer.

Saunders said he is working on getting the paving bid out.

Scheduled for paving are 1½ miles of Death Valley Road and 1 mile of nearby Bradbury Hill Road.

Voters at the March town meeting approved raising $293,000, plus using state road funds, for paving.

Fire Chief Dean Campbell said he planned to strip the siding off the north side of Central Fire Station this week so he and Steve French can put new siding on this weekend.

In other business, Selectman Eda Tripp said the former owner of one foreclosed property has redeemed it, and Tripp is hoping the town doesn’t have to put a second property up for sale. A third property, mostly swampland, will be put up for sale, she said.

In his report, Highway Supervisor Scott Parker said his crew is sweeping sand from town roads and both ball field roads are open.

Parker also said he intends to take down notices posted on roads so heavy vehicles can use them.