China select board spends whopping amount at recent meeting

by Mary Grow

China select board members spent a whopping amount of taxpayers’ money at their Oct. 6 meeting.

Most of the spending was near the beginning of the meeting, when they unanimously approved a warrant for miscellaneous goods and services (the “payables warrant” that’s on each biweekly agenda) in the amount of $1,419,494.85.

The two biggest items included were 2026 Kennebec County dues, $809,689, and the October payment to Regional School Unit #18, $499,109.40.

Later in the meeting, board members approved:

— $2,700 for Wings Tree Service, of China, low bidder for work at the town ball fields;
— $14,500 for Reardon Brothers Construction, of Albion, low bidder for work on Ridge Trail, in Thurston Park; and
— $12,900 to buy the town office a new copier from Transco, with a monthly service contract $49 lower than the present monthly fee.

Drug Take Back Day canceled

The drug take-back day scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, at the China transfer station has been canceled. Unneeded drugs can be taken to the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office in Augusta any time.

Board members discussed other work needed or desired at the ball fields with Recreation Committee chairman Martha Wentworth and member Edward Brownell. Brownell was tasked with pricing power washers to keep outsides of buildings clean; for this fall, two board members offered to lend theirs.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood shared a notice of the 30-day comment period on Delta Ambulance’s application to reduce its licensing level, so that it need not have a paramedic in every ambulance that goes on a call. Board members voted unanimously to send a comment to the effect that they are not pleased that China residents get less service as the annual fee Delta charges the town goes up; but they understand they have to live with it.

Hapgood presented one piece of good news: the Maine Municipal Association gave China’s 2024 town report a rating of Superior in its annual competition (not the first time the town and the office staff have been honored).

Julie Finley commended on 25 years of service

At their Oct. 6 meeting, China select board members unanimously approved and signed a certificate of appreciation and thanks commending deputy clerk Julie Finley for 25 years of service in the China town office.

The manager’s notices included:

— Absentee voting for Nov. 4 (state referenda and local elections) began Oct. 6 and ends Thursday, Oct. 30. On Nov. 4, China polls with be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the portable building behind the town office on Lakeview Drive.
— All town services will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13, for the federal Indigenous Peoples holiday, and on Thursday, Oct. 23, for staff training.
— The Board of Appeals meets at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, to continue discussion of Timothy Theriault’s application for a variance at his Lakeview Drive property.
— The next two select board meetings are scheduled for Monday evenings, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.