Staff Writer
City officials plan to apply for a state grant that would redo the fire department’s parking lot and install vinyl crosswalks as part of the plan to revitalize the business districts in the city. The council voted April 14 to apply for the grant, which requires 1:1 matching funds. A public hearing on the proposal also has been scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday April 29. The money would come from the Maine Municipal Investment Trust Fund Program. Communities can apply for up to $500,000, according to Mary Walton, director of community development.
After two votes, the council decided to reconfigure the fire department’s parking lot and rehabilitate the Honor Roll Memorial at a cost of $45,000. For about $11,000, a total of 20 crosswalks would be installed using the new vinyl materials that were used on Bennett Drive this winter.
The grant also would pay for repair or replacement of “gateway” signage at a cost of $12,000 and “wayfinding” signage throughout the downtown for $16,000.
Initially, the Downtown Advisory Committee proposed improving the park area by the Downtown Mall at a cost of $65,000. However, in a 3-4 vote, the proposal was defeated. In the second 4-3 vote, a motion was approved to increase the number of crosswalks and to eliminate the mall park area project.
The total amount of funding needed for the projects, including the required matching money, is $85,600.
Sources of funding for the matching funds include a community development match fund, and revenue from the Maine Military Authority lease.
Wright-Pierce, an engineering firm that worked on the recently adopted downtown plan, has been retained to do the conceptual design for the projects.
In other business, the council awarded a contract to Aroostook Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc., for $18,395 for repairing the Caribou Municipal Airport hangar roof.
The council also authorized two grant applications through the Federal Emergency Management Authority for a compressor and replacement rescue vehicle and approved a quitclaim deed to Wendy and Jeffery Robertson.
A ‘release deed right of first refusal” was approved for the Lister-Knowlton VFW Post for their donation of two acres of land to the Caribou Friends of Scouting, where a Boy Scout building will be constructed.
The posting of weight restrictions on certain municipal ways was approved and a Bingo Game of Chance License was approved for the American Legion on Sweden Street.
The council authorized the preparation of an agreement between the Caribou Lions Club and the city regarding the Lions Community Service Center and the Lions’ facilities at Collins Pond Park.
Municipal ballot clerks were appointed for a two-year period.
The city’s brush clean-up program also was eliminated during the April 14 meeting.
The next council meeting will be held on Monday, May 12.
