BUCKFIELD – Representatives of the Buckfield Village Corp. told selectmen Tuesday night that a maximum 143 percent rate increase has been requested to meet expenses.
“It is going to be a major rate increase,” Superintendent Lewis Williams said Tuesday night after the meeting.
If approved by the Public Utilities Commission, the increase boost an average annual residential bill from $320 to $770.
There are 178 water customers in Buckfield, and the last rate increase was about 10 years ago, Williams said.
The hike is necessary, he said, because there is no industry to help pay for expenses and the corporation is losing money every year. In 2004 it was $40,441.90 short, he said.
The rate request is now before the Rural Water Department, which will send it to PUC for final approval.
The corporation is asking selectmen to consider having the town take over the corporation, and selectmen voted to have Town Manager Glen Holmes look into the matter.
In other business, selectmen awarded a contract for part of the Municipal Center Landscape project to Stanley Excavation for $162,500.
The work includes excavation and drainage, lighting and paving. The work is expected to start within two weeks.
Holmes said $7,000 has been donated for the greenscaping, and donations are still being accepted.
The town manager presented the board with an inventory of all roads in Buckfield, their condition and priority for repairs. Most of the roads are 100 years old. Holmes said road repair also signals water line repairs.
Selectmen will have a budget workshop May 4, and there will be a public hearing at 7 p.m. May 10 on declaring the Lowe property on Main Street a dangerous building.
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