Staff Writer
During Monday evening’s meeting of the Caribou City Council voted to set the tax mil rate at 24.1 for 2010 tax bills. This rate was authorized following the explanation of the 2010 municipal tax rate calculation and the amendments made to the 2010 city budget made prior to the tax commitment. Councilman David Martin moved to set the 2010 mil rate at 24.1. This motion was seconded by Counciler Karla Bell and was authorized through a vote with Counciler Mark Goughan casting a nay vote.
The 24.1 mil rate wasn’t the first number councilers discussed however. Initially Martin had moved to set the rate at 24 mils, which was seconded by Counciler Chris Bell. This motion did not pass, following a vote where councilors Boone, Goughan and Karla Bell voted in opposition, resulting in a 3-3 tie. Councilwoman Mary Kate Barbosa was not in attendance.
Following the removal of the 24 mil rate vote, Martin said he would propose a 23.99 mil rate if that would get counciler Goughan to vote with him. There was no second to this motion, and it was removed from the table.
Jon Boone stated, “We know the components for this year, referring to the Wellness Center payment and the influx from the Tri -Community Landfill (a one time sum), but is 24(mils) enough? I’m just trying to be realistic.”
Martin then asked Goughan, “What would you like to see?” Goughan replied, “I’d go along with Jon regarding the expense side but I have a real hard time with the Tri-Community sum of $510,000 — we have used the entire amount.” Mayor Ken Murchison reminded Goughan that the Tri-Community Landfill amount was a, “return on our investment and went to the operating budget.”
According to Steve Buck, city manager, the $510,000 is Caribou’s portion of an amount that will be divided between the three communities that own the Tri-Community Landfill. The revenues will be received by the city this year but have already been applied to the non-property revenue side of the 2010 budget to offset the anticipated shortfall.
The funds are the result of the communities developing a liner system that was placed over the top of the existing site after DEP required that the landfill had to be covered. The liner system, (the result of the communities working with engineers) placed on the top of the area increased the lifespan of the landfill by 15 years. In turn, the money actually saved through this action by the Tri-Community Landfill is divided amongst the three communities which have ownership, with Caribou having the lion’s share.
Referring to a topic that had been discussed earlier in the meeting, regarding the printing of the city’s Annual Report (which is to include an insert containing color photographs of the city’s Sesquicentennial Celebration events). Earlier this year, according to Buck, he had approached the Sesquicentennial Committee regarding the leftover funds from the 2009 events, inquiring rather or not they would consider giving the city $5,000 to cover the cost of the print for the annual report, since it could be seen as a commemorative item and the city was looking to increase the number of reports printed.
Martin asked Buck if the committee had agreed to do so with the city manager replying, “No, it was not acted upon. The committee will use the funds to purchase a two-sided electronic community bulletin board that will be located between the Caribou Learning Center and the Wellness Center. The structure will also contain a clock. The message board will be controlled by employees at the Wellness Center,” he added.
As Goughan continued to justify his 24 mil rate opposition he said, “We just voted to add $4,700 to our expense budget to have the annual reports printed, because the committee couldn’t give us any money back.”
At that point, Martin made the motion to raise the mil rate from 24 to 24.1, with Goughan again voting in opposition.
The mil rate for the 2010 tax commitment had to fall between the state mandate which is a minimum of 23.71 and a maximum of 24.90.
The council then voted to set the date of commitment for the 2010 property taxes to be committed to the tax collector as July 1, 2010, and established the same date that the 2010 property taxes will be due and payable. It was also voted to set a date of Friday, Oct.1, 2010, as the date for interest to begin accruing on any delinquent 2010 property taxes. The panel voted to established the recommended state rate of 7 percent as the rate of interest to be charged on delinquent 2010 property taxes. A rate of interest for the overpayment and or abatement of property taxes for 2007 was set at 3 percent.
The 2010 local taxable real estate valuation is $257,734,100. This value is determined by the tax assessor and this value is the combined value of all land and buildings, including transmission and distribution lines, dams and power houses within Caribou. The local taxable personal property valuation for 2010 is $14,2621,200
Caribou’s 2010 portion for K-12 education and adult education will be $2,930,775 as a result of the public authorization on June 24, of the new RSU 39 budget of $18,561,488.
In other business the council received written and verbal comment on an application for an Automobile Graveyard/Junkyard Permit by Leon Door, project manager of Oakland and considered the request for a Junkyard Permit for property tax map 33, Lot 11, off Limestone Street. Dorr fielded a number of questions from the panel and explained the type of business the permit would create.
Buck informed the councilors that this project had been reviewed by the members of the Caribou Planning Board and that Steve Wentworth, code enforcement officer had deemed the proposed business to be in compliance with all mandatory codes.
Dorr stated that the scrap metal recycling facility would break down ferrous/non-ferrous material in preparation to ship out to other locations via rail or by other private contractors. The project manager also said he would estimate to have three rail cars full of the scrap iron moved every 10 days and that the unprepared heavy iron would be sheared not stockpiled. Dorr also stated the company, OneSteel Recycling, Inc. works with the MM and A Railroad and is a huge advocate of the rail service, especially from Millinocket and north.
The city council voted unanimously to authorized the permits requested.
Other council votes during the June 28 meeting resulted as follows.
• Authorizing the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department to be the fiscal agent for the Maine Department of Conservation for improvements to the Bangor and Aroostook multi-use trail system.
• Authorized a municipal quitclaim deed for taxes paid in full, Map 19, Lot 19.
• Authorized the renewal of a Restaurant Class Liquor License for Chris Richards dba The Par and Grill, at 118 Bennett Drive.
• Authorized the renewal of a Game of Chance License for Caribou Senior Citizens Bingo at the American Legion Hall, Post 15 on Sweden Street.
• Voted for Steve Buck and Paul A. Soucy of Eagle Lake to be nominated to fill two positions to the 2010-12 MMA Legislative Policy committee.
The next meeting of the Caribou City Council will be on Monday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
