WASHBURN, Maine — Washburn town officials met with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Oct. 13 to tour the more than 100-year-old municipal building that needs to be replaced.
With Collins were Washburn Town Manager Donna Turner, Police Chief Cyr Martin, Fire Chief Nathan Allen, Code Enforcement Officer Adam Doody and Town Council Chairman Keith Brown.
“In Washburn today, I saw firsthand the importance of replacing the more than 100-year-old municipal building to create a safer work environment and better protect the dedicated public servants and local community,” Collins said.
“By supporting the construction of a new facility, this investment would allow Washburn’s brave firefighters and police officers to continue to deliver reliable emergency services to protect local residents and businesses while also providing new office space for the town.”
Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, is working to secure $750,000 for the construction of a new facility for Washburn’s police and fire departments as well as the town office.
Office space in the existing municipal building is limited, requiring three full-time police officers to share two desks. The close proximity of the police department to the municipal offices creates safety risks for non-law enforcement employees and jeopardizes victims’ and suspects’ right to privacy. The building also lacks secure evidence storage and does not have a room for questioning suspects.
Furthermore, the fire department needs to replace an old fuel truck with an up-to-date tanker truck, but the new vehicle would not fit into the current building.
The federal funding would allow Washburn to build a new public safety building with more space and heightened privacy for each department. In addition, it will incorporate space for a new fuel truck for the fire department.
Washburn’s population is approximately 1,700. The Fire Department has 18 volunteer firefighters, while the Police Department employs three full-time officers.
