Work under way at South China boat ramp

South China boat launch. (photo by Roland D. Hallee)

by Mary Grow

The good news from the Nov. 3 China select board meeting is that the planks needed to extend the South China boat ramp arrived, and the job of installing them is under way.

Town officials have been trying to improve the launch area and the road leading to it for many months. Their goals are to make the site more usable for small watercraft and to control erosion, while leaving the landing secluded to protect water quality and the neighborhood.

Work on the Town Landing Road, which leads from South China’s Village Street to the landing, is “coming along nicely,” Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said, thanks to the public works crew and resident Brent Chesley.

Turning to another project, select board members awarded a contract to add insulation, with a fire-resistant coating, in the community forest building behind China Primary School. They chose the lowest of three bidders, Builders Installed Products of Maine, LLC, of Hermon.

Board members appointed Benjamin Loubier the new chief of China Rescue, ratifying the unit’s members’ decision. Loubier succeeds Danny McKinnis, who resigned.

After a second public hearing on amendments to the town’s general assistance ordinance and appendices, which brought no public comments, board members approved the new version. Hapgood explained that after they acted at their Sept. 22 meeting, the Maine Municipal Association and state officials made changes, requiring another vote.

In other business, resident Edward Brownell reported on work he had done at the town ballfields, and received the board’s thanks.

Hapgood announced that 2026 dog licenses are now available. Licenses must be renewed by Dec. 31 each year.

The manager said all town departments will be closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 27 and 28 for Thanksgiving. Town officials intend to collect food donations before Thanksgiving; they are working on logistics.

The next select board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17.

The Nov. 3 meeting was the last – at least for now – for retiring board members Wayne Chadwick and Jeanne Marquis. Hapgood presented each with a letter of appreciation, and their colleagues thanked them for their service.