WASHBURN, Maine — The police and fire departments for the town of Washburn may soon have a new home if a grant from two recent appropriations bills in Congress receive approval.
The funds are part of a grand total of $7.5 million for six different Maine municipal and public safety projects. The bills were passed by the Appropriations Committee Wednesday, Aug. 4, and will advance to the Senate for full consideration.
Washburn stands to receive $750,000, which would be used for a new public safety building to house the town’s police and fire departments.
Currently, the departments share a building with the town office, a building which is more than 100 years old, and lacks the critical space needed for various public safety equipment.
Washburn Town Manager Donna Turner said the need for the grant came from the fire department’s wishing to purchase a new tanker truck, but lacking the necessary space to house one.
“It’s physically not large enough for a tanker,” Turner said about the current building. “Even if they have saved up the money for it, the building won’t hold it.”
In addition, more room is required for the town’s police department, which consists of three officers who share a single small office room in the present building.
The funding would come from two different appropriations bills, the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill.
At $750,000, the Washburn grant makes up about 10 percent of the total amount proposed for Maine municipalities. Other public safety departments in the state which could see funding from the bills are in Corinna, Machiasport and Rumford.
