FRENCHVILLE, Maine – Funding for grader repairs, a new UTV, and opening a one-year $275,000 line of credit for wastewater work is on the warrant for an upcoming town meeting in Frenchville.
The wastewater project would refurbish a pump station that hasn’t seen upgrades in decades.
The town last year completed a fiscal sustainability plan and climate adaptation plan, both of which indicated that pump station one, which has not been upgraded in 30 years, is a priority. The station still works, however upgrades would automate the alarm system and help save time and resources during emergencies.
The line of credit would be opened via Katahdin Trust Company at an interest rate of 4.87%. The amount includes $215,000 for the town’s share of improvements at the pump station, which is at the intersection of Church Avenue and U.S. Route 1.
The remaining $60,000 would upgrade the aeration diffuser system in the wastewater basins, located at the water treatment facility on 368 US Route 1.
After the one-year period of the credit, Frenchville Town Manager David Cyr said the town will look to secure a long-term bond through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank to take advantage of more favorable lending rates.
Another agenda item will ask to allow the town to borrow $50,000, which will be used both to repair its grader and purchase a new utility task vehicle, or UTV, for the fire department. Frenchville would borrow the money from Acadia Federal Credit Union at an interest rate of 4.50%.
The fire department has raised $22,000 toward the vehicle, and the town would contribute $10,000. The remaining $40,000 will be used to fund repairs to the grader. The 2003 machine was purchased by Frenchville in 2009 and is still in great shape overall, but needs a transmission replacement, Cyr said.
A separate item on the agenda will allow Cyr, who is also the town treasurer, permission to borrow money on behalf of the town.
The warrant also includes an item to authorize town officials to enact the Sept. 2025 General Assistance Ordinance along with its 2025 and 2026 appendices. This will allow the town to issue general assistance. This is a fairly standard item that gets updated every couple of years, depending on when it’s taken up by the state legislature, Cyr said.
The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Frenchville Community Center.
