To the editor:We want to thank the volunteers from the “China for a Lifetime’ committee and others who came to help cut up “Grandfather Pine” (as we always called him) and did so much more. We truly never could have done any of that ourselves. We will never forget your kindnesses.
Thank you.
Rosalyn Vance
Roni Newton
China
by Mary GrowCHINA, ME — China Transfer Station Committee members decided at their May 17 meeting they will not recommend a new building to shelter the second compactor just north of the main trash hopper, because cost estimates are too high.
Instead, they plan to investigate a cover to protect the controls and container contents from rain and snow, both to extend their useful lives and to avoid paying to truck away water as well as trash for disposal.
Committee Chairman Lawrence Sikora said he had an estimate of $238,000 for a 20-by-20-foot metal building – to protect an $80,000 piece of equipment. Such an expenditure would make sense only if the building were multi-purpose, in Sikora’s opinion, and neither he nor others present suggested other uses.
Sikora asked committee member Mark Davis to see about prices for waterproof tarps from an Augusta source. Director of Public Services Shawn Reed commented that town truck bodies have canvas covers; the only problem is that they’re hard to roll up when covered with snow.
Committee members again agreed to recommend that select board members buy a new loader as soon as possible. They took no vote because, Sikora pointed out, they already made a formal recommendation at their April 12 meeting (see The Town Line, April 21, p. 3).
Reed said the prices he had as of March 1 have already gone up, one by $14,000, another by $20,000.
Reed strongly recommended the new machine have a quick-connect bucket that can be removed and replaced with a 12-foot “pusher” to remove snow. That addition would have cost $10,000 and is now $11,790, he said; but the overtime money it will save over the life of the machine – which could be 25 years — makes it still worthwhile.
Another pending improvement at the transfer station is a cement pad on which to store appliances, tires and other items awaiting disposal. Reed, referring to a map of the transfer station on page 60 of the newly-printed China town report (for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021), pointed out the shortage of unoccupied space. He intends to talk with Codes Officer Jaime Hanson about setbacks from boundaries and other regulatory issues before suggesting a site.
Robert Kurek, one of Palermo’s representatives, shared information compiled from RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags by his colleague, Chris Diesch. The pages show how often a given tag was recorded, without giving any information about the person to whom it was issued.
Committee members have previously discussed making fuller use of information the RFID system can provide. They have also considered scrapping it and returning to stickers on vehicles; and installing a “guard station” at the entrance.
Site Manager Tim Grotton said if there were a manned entrance, some type of placard or sticker would still be needed, unless newcomers were expected to produce a driver’s license to get in. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood would like an annual renewal requirement for RFID placards, if they continued to be used.
Committee members again reached no conclusions.
The committee’s next regular meeting date would be June 14; since that is voting day, the committee will not meet June 14. Sikora announced his pending resignation from the committee, due to time constraints, and suggested others should choose a meeting day.
by Mary GrowCHINA, ME — After a long discussion at their May 23 meeting, China Select Board members unanimously voted to buy a new Volvo loader from Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc., of Westbrook.
Director of Public Services Shawn Reed urged them to make an immediate decision. Prices are rising weekly, he said; if board members put off action until their June 6 meeting, he would need to ask for new bids.
The proposed price, $154,300, was the lowest of five bids received, and the Volvo was one of two loaders Reed recommended. Select board members authorized Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood to negotiate for a lower price.
Hapgood said the balance in the equipment reserve fund is just under $370,000.
The bids included, separately, prices for a snow pusher and a grapple. These auxiliary pieces can be attached to the loader in place of the bucket. Reed recommended buying the attachments, eventually: the snow pusher, he said, would save time cleaning up after storms, and the grapple would make piling brush more efficient.
Select board members expect Reed to continue investigating the attachments, for example evaluating new versus used (if available), and seeing if he can obtain one or both, with connecting links compatible with the Volvo, at a lower price from another dealer.
Board members discussed several options before their decision, including keeping the town’s 25-year-old loader a few more years, or leasing instead of buying a new machine.
Hapgood had asked board member Wayne Chadwick, who is familiar with heavy machinery, to try the loader. His comment: “It’s startin’ to show its age, more so than I thought it was before I drove it.”
William Terry, a representative of one of the unsuccessful bidders, warned of expensive repairs and extensive down time if China tried to keep so old a machine operating. Local resident Brent Chesley, another man with expertise, said leasing a loader would cost taxpayers more than buying one.
The other unanimous decision made May 23 was to adopt a resolution approving the Kennebec County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Kennebec County Emergency Management Agency Director Sean Goodwin explained that the document is updated every five years, based on information towns supply. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already approved the current draft, he said; municipal approvals are the final step.
Goodwin said the major advantage of adopting the plan is that it speeds relief funding in case there is a disaster in town. Towns are not required to deal with every listed risk, like a culvert that is likely to wash out; local officials are free to act according to their priorities and budgets.
The plan, dated 2021, is on the Town of China website, china.govoffice.com, the final item under the Emergencies tab at the left-hand side of the home page.
Sections of the document cover four types of potential hazards: floods, severe winter storms, wildfires and severe summer storms. The plan provides historical information and evaluates risks for each town.
For example, in China there are no areas known to be at risk for wildfires. Albion, Belgrade, Benton and Chelsea are among towns in which wooded areas, especially those with houses among the trees, are considered at risk. Clinton, Monmouth, Oakland and Readfield officials consider areas along railroad tracks as at risk.
Hapgood reminded those present that the town office will be closed Saturday, May 28, and Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday. The town office will also be closed Tuesday, June 14, because staff will be at polls in the portable building, and Monday, June 20, for the new Juneteenth federal holiday.
Absentee ballots for local, Regional School Unit 18 and state voting are now available, and the ballot return box is outside the town office building.
To the editor:We are writing to show our support for Jennifer Tuminaro as she runs for public office. As the soccer coach for Solid Rock, Jen leads humbly, giving clear instruction while coming alongside to help guide those around her. Coach Tuminaro embodies what it means to be a servant leader. She is not afraid of getting down in the trenches with people. She can be seen doing intense drills and exercises alongside the team, even on a 90-degree day, leading by example and showing them that they can do hard things.
We have also observed her on the sidelines engaging with kids and parents alike, some of who are traversing hardships in life, while offering a listening ear and compassionate heart. She is the loudest voice on the field cheering our kids on, and she motivates our children to a standard of excellence, both on and off the field. Coach Tuminaro has a passion for the success of the next generation, inspiring our youth to be leaders and young men and women of integrity.
When problems arise, Jen seeks solutions and is not afraid to ask for help if needed. An example of this was when Covid affected sports throughout Maine. Coach Tuminaro, who is also the athletic director and representative for the MCSSL Sports League, spent countless hours making phone calls, keeping up on ever-changing protocols, and found ways where we could safely participate in the soccer season. It was a daunting task but one she pursued ardently. Her hard work was reflected on the smiling faces of our children as they were able to participate in group sports in this unprecedented time of isolation.
One of Jen’s many strengths is that she is a great communicator who has a heart to hear and understand others, even those whom she may not agree with. This important skill, coupled with her respect for people of all ages and stages, makes her very approachable. Jennifer Tuminaro inspires others to be the best versions of themselves. She is the kind of leader who can capably handle the hard issues of our day while also remaining kindhearted and accessible. Jennifer Tuminaro is a breath of fresh air in the polluted world of politics.
The Solid Rock Soccer parents
China
by Mary GrowCHINA, ME — China Director of Public Services Shawn Reed has consensus support from the town Road Committee for his paving plans for this summer, which involve extensive use of chip seal rather than asphalt resurfacing (see The Town Line, May 12, p. 2).
Reed and Doug Fowler, representing All States Construction, of Richmond, the company to which select board members awarded the paving bid on May 9, explained the process to the committee
A road is first shimmed, given a coat that evens its surface. Fowler said sometimes as much as four inches of shim are needed where years of traffic have created ruts in the pavement. The shim coat cures for 30 days; then chip seal, an emulsion with hard rock embedded, is applied.
After a few days the road is swept to move any loose rock into the ditches. Fowler said All States will do the sweeping, twice if necessary.
China’s South Road is chip sealed, and Reed is pleased with the way it is holding up so far. He and Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said they received two types of comments after the road was done.
Because the shim surface was so smooth, drivers questioned why the road was surfaced again after a month, Reed said. Hapgood added that until the loose rocks were gone, motorcyclists complained.
Reed plans this year to resurface all or parts of McCaslin Road, Dutton Road, Danforth Road, Pleasant View Ridge Road, Morrill Road (to the Winslow town line) Causeway Street, Canton Street, Peking Street and Neck Road.
He recommends asphalt resurfacing only on Peking, Canton and Causeway streets. Because Pleasant View Ridge Road is heavily traveled, he is considering a double coat of chip seal on the part scheduled, which runs east and then south from Lakeview Drive about to McCaslin Road.
Chip seal is less expensive than asphalt, so at present prices the planned work can be done within the proposed 2022-23 paving budget of $560,000. However, Reed and Fowler said, prices are rising weekly, and China’s contract with All States has an escalator clause allowing the company to raise its prices as its costs go up.
The paving budget includes road striping, and Reed commented that the price.
The following students have been named to the dean’s list for the 2021 fall semester at the University of New England, in Biddeford. Dean’s list students have attained a grade point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.
Olivia McPherson, of Albion; Valerie Capeless, Zinaida Gregor, Jessica Guerrette, Brooklynn Merrill and Julia White, all of Augusta; Sidney Knox, of Benton; Alden Balboni, Kierra Bumford and Tyler Pellerin, all of Oakland: Sarah Kohl and Olivia Roy, both of Sidney; Julia Steeves and Dawson Turcotte, both of Skowhegan; Lauren Boatright, Noelle Cote and Richard Winn, all of South China; Libby Breznyak and Lauren Pinnette, both of Waterville; and Juliann Lapierre and Justice Picard, both of Winslow.
The University of New England is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized degree paths in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts. Visit une.edu
Come one and all to the first annual Local Farms Day at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library at 37 Main St. in China Village. Attendees will view displays of goods of area farmers and producers with items also for sale. This family friendly event will be held on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Displays will be indoors and out. There will be door prizes and giveaways. Children will enjoy some activities including a story and craft time at 11 a.m. We will also be accepting seed donations to build up our Seed Sharing Library.
The China Planning Board meeting scheduled for May 9 was canceled; board members were not ready to continue work on draft ordinances. The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24.
by Mary GrowAt their May 4 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members continued discussion of working with Unitel and Direct Communications to bring expanded broadband service to China residents. CBC Chairman Robert O’Connor planned to present an interim report to China Select Board members at their May 9 meeting.
As at their previous joint discussion April 6 (see The Town Line, April 14, p. 3), everyone was enthusiastic about a cooperative endeavor – and how to pay for what CBC members envision remained a problem.
After voters defeated a request to borrow money through a bond in November 2021, CBC members have been determined to develop a plan that would not require financial support from taxpayers. They expect a combination of grants, user fees and other to-be-explored sources to cover costs.
CBC member Jamie Pitney summarized the committee’s relationship with Unitel: “We contacted all these people [from other broadband and telecommunications companies, including those already serving China residents] and the most promising are sitting right here.”
Michael Akers, Unitel’s Director of Network Operations, said he and Lead Communications Technician Scott Turgeon toured about half of China’s roads and confirmed and expanded information collected by last summer’s survey by Hawkeye Connections.
Notably, they found areas on main roads and camp roads where new facilities would be needed. The necessary construction would be “fairly straightforward,” Akers said, parts of it easy and parts hard.
In sum, the Unitel experts were “not supersurprised” by their findings. They concurred with Hawkeye’s cost estimate of around $6.5 million for work China would need.
They also agreed that under current guidelines and definitions for federal and state broadband grants, China could expect about $850,000, leaving a substantial amount needed from other sources.
Unitel and Direct Communications would contribute, amounts unknown. And, several people mentioned in discussion, grant guidelines will not be final until the fall of 2022 and might change to China’s advantage.
Another possible plan would be to expand China broadband incrementally over several years, starting with service to currently unserved and underserved areas.
The group agreed that CBC members should encourage China residents to do repeated speed tests on their current broadband service. Demonstrations of limited service should help show the need for change. Direct Communications, based in the small town of Rockland, Idaho, specializes in providing rural towns with broadband service. Unitel, based in Unity, Maine, is now a member of Direct Communications. Unitel’s Director of Internal/External Support, Jayne Sullivan, and Akers said they will forward a description of the local financial situation to Idaho.
Pitney asked James Dougherty, from consultant Mission Broadband, to draft a work plan for the CBC based on the May 4 discussion. After discussion of how much time would be needed, the next CBC meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, in the portable building behind the China town office.
by Mary GrowThe May 9 China Select Board meeting began with a half-hour public hearing on three of the items to be submitted to voters on June 14: the Large Scale Solar Facilities Moratorium Ordinance (Art. 37), the updated town comprehensive plan (Art. 38) and the 2022-23 municipal budget (Arts. 2 through 21, and indirectly Arts. 22 through 25 and 27 through 35).
Select Board Chairman Ronald Breton briefly explained each item and invited questions from the audience, on line and in the meeting room. There was one: Lawrence Sikora asked why money for China’s volunteer fire departments appeared in two different articles.
Breton explained that Art. 9 asks for $166,755 to keep the fire departments and rescue unit operating, funding their buildings and equipment and related expenses. Art. 12 asks for $92,000 for 11 “community support organizations,” donations or gifts to help in-town service organizations. The fire departments’ appropriations are intended for each department’s chief to distribute among the volunteer members in appreciation of their work.
Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said town meeting information, including the proposed ordinance and the revised comprehensive plan, are on China’s website, china.govoffice.com, under the elections tab on the left side of the page. A paper copy of the lengthy comprehensive plan may be borrowed from the town office.
During the meeting that followed the hearing, select board members approved two school-related questions for voters to answer on June 14. They will be on two separate ballots. One asks voters to approve or reject the 2022-23 school budget that will have been approved in an open meeting May 19. The other asks voter approval to apply to the state’s School Revolving Renovation Fund.
Carl Gartley, China resident and Superintendent in Regional School Unit (RSU) #18 (Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney), said the proposed 2022-23 budget is 1.57 percent, or about $643,000, higher than the current year’s budget. China’s share is projected to increase by 0.96 percent, or about $48,000.
On Thursday, May 19, interested voters from the five RSU #18 towns will meet at 6 p.m. at the Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center, in Oakland, and vote on the amount in each of the 18 articles that make up the budget. On June 14, voters in the five towns will vote yes or no on re-approving the total that was approved May 19, the annual school budget referendum vote.
The formula that determines how much of the total RSU budget each town pays is currently based 75 percent on property valuation and 25 percent on student population. Gartley said that a new 15-member committee – three people from each town, appointed by the select boards – that will decide whether to continue or to amend the formula is scheduled to be organized this fall.
Also on June 14 is the state primary election.
China’s polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 14, in the former portable classroom behind the town office. Hapgood reminded the audience that the town office will be closed all day, because staff will be at the polls.
Town and state absentee ballots will be available at the town office Monday, May 16, and the RSU ballots will be available Friday, May 20.
In other business at the May 9 meeting, select board members reviewed seven bids for paving town roads. They unanimously accepted the low bid of $86.90 per ton of paving mix, from All States Construction, of Richmond, with the proviso that Hapgood and the China Road Committee will decide what roads to repave with asphalt and what roads to chip seal, as they evaluate the need and the funds available.
Steven Goulas, Paving Coordinator/Estimator for All States, explained that a chip seal surface is a layer of emulsion with hard stone spread on top and packed down, and then swept to move any loose stone into the ditches. Chip seal costs less than repaving.
Depending on the road, different size stone can be used, and either one or two layers applied, Goulas said. He estimated a chip sealed surface would last on average around five years, compared to an average of around seven years for an asphalt repaving. Chip seal is more durable now than it was 30 years ago because of the change in weather, he added.
Shawn Reed, China’s newly-titled Director of Public Services (combining management of the public works department and the transfer station), reminded the audience that South Road was chip sealed and is holding up well. His opinion is that it would be better to do as much as possible of the planned 5.1 miles of resurfacing this summer, using both methods as road committee members advise, than to postpone all work hoping for lower prices in 2023.
The China Road Committee, including Hapgood and Reed, was scheduled to meet Wednesday morning, May 11.
Reed’s report to the select board, presented by Hapgood, said his department has just added two new employees, one for public works and one for the transfer station.
Hapgood reminded those present that new transfer station hours take effect the week of May 16. So far, she said, she has heard only approval of the change. The new hours are on the town website and posted at the transfer station.
Select board members accepted the lowest of three bids for 18 months of mowing (to switch the contract from a calendar to a fiscal year), $47,225 from AK Enterprise, Alex Sargent’s landscape company, in Chelsea.
They approved a renewed two-year dispatching contract with the City of Waterville’s police department. The price is a little over $19,000 for the first year – already in the proposed 2022-23 budget, Hapgood said – and likely to increase slightly in the second year.
Robert O’Connor, chairman of the China Broadband Committee (CBC), updated board members on committee discussions with representatives of telecommunications companies since his report last November. CBC members are currently optimistic about prospects for expanded broadband service through Unity-based Unitel and Unitel’s new partner, Direct Communications of Idaho (see related story here).
The next regular China Select Board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, May 23.