Search Committee Gathers Land Info

By Ken Smith

The Public Works Study Committee has continued its search for a parcel of land in Lamoine that would be suitable for the location of a public works complex and a school. Although the committee has determined that implementation of a public works department is not economically viable at this time, conditions could change in the future that would make it viable. The Lamoine Consolidated School also is facing some major issues and may need to be replaced to serve either Lamoine students only or students from multiple communities.

The committee expanded the scope of its 2002 search by using a questionnaire to solicit possible interest from owners of 20 acres or more that appeared to meet the search criteria. The questionnaire was sent to the owners of 64 potentially acceptable parcels. Ten owners indicated a possible interest in selling all or a portion of their land to the town within five years. These sites were field evaluated to identify the top three. The best of these is located behind the existing school ballfield, but is separated from the ballfield by another narrow parcel. The owners of the narrow parcel have indicated that they would consider selling part of it to the town to facilitate access to the 20 acre parcel under consideration. The owners of another parcel adjacent to the ballfield also have indicated a possible interest in selling a piece of their land that would enhance the usefulness of the other parcels or even the existing school parcel.

All three parcels are presently being appraised to facilitate negotiations with the landowners. If the negotiated prices are acceptable to the selectmen, then the town would enter into appropriate purchase and sale agreements contingent upon acceptable soils testing for subsurface wastewater disposal and a favorable town referendum vote. If either of these contingencies is not met, then the selectmen may request that the committee pursue another site.