The city of Presque Isle is fortunate to have an experienced and dedicated Facilities Department working behind the scenes to keep our community’s buildings, parks, trails and event spaces operating safely and efficiently.
The department oversees maintenance, custodial care, capital projects, event support, infrastructure improvements, grounds maintenance and emergency response for all major municipal facilities, including The Forum, Sargent Family Community Center, City Hall, the Public Safety Building, Public Works building, Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, Mantle Lake Park and Riverside Park.
Every day, every season
From early morning ice resurfacing to late-night event tear-down, the facilities team is constantly on the move. Winter storm response, HVAC repairs, plumbing, electrical work, playground inspections, preventative building maintenance, forestry efforts and landscaping are just some of the ongoing responsibilities. Their dedication keeps city spaces safe, functional, and ready to serve the public.
Supporting community events
Presque Isle is known for hosting community-wide events that bring residents and guests together — trade shows, expos, public gatherings and more. The Facilities Department prepares event spaces, supports logistics and sanitation and ensures all venues are ready for large and small gatherings alike.
Ice season at The Forum
Each fall, The Forum transitions into full ice mode, welcoming skaters of all ages. Ice installation and maintenance require daily attention and precision, and the team ensures a high quality surface for youth and high school hockey, adult hockey leagues, figure skating, public skating and school and community skating programs.
This December marks our third annual “Fill the Forum” event. This event is held when the Presque Isle Wildcats hockey team hosts the Houlton/Hodgdon Blackhawks. We are able to offer free admission with the donation of a food item, thanks to our sponsor Mechanical Services Inc. This is a wonderful community hockey night and food drive which supports the two local Catholic Charities food banks in Presque Isle and Bridgewater.
A major highlight of the 2025 season is the arrival of the Northern Maine Pioneers junior hockey team, based at The Forum. With elevated competition, community engagement and the potential to draw fans from across the region, the Pioneers bring a new level of excitement to local hockey.
The Facilities Department takes pride in delivering professional-quality ice and outstanding facility support to ensure a successful inaugural season.
The holiday week is a festive and family-friendly time at The Forum, and this season we are hosting Sponsor-A-Skate from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2, offering free public skating sessions thanks to the generosity of local businesses. This year’s sponsors include:
Mapleton Oil, Machias Savings Bank, Lionheart Direct Care , Cushman’s and RE/MAX County. These community partners are helping provide fun, healthy activities for families, youth and visitors during the holiday season. The Facilities Department extends sincere appreciation for their support and investment in vibrant community recreation.
Food service enhancements
In addition to athletics and events, The Forum continues to improve the guest experience with reliable concessions and full-service catering, including a new kitchen facility.
Northern Maine Catering, operated by Rob Ottaviano, provides quality concession food full catering menu options and customized menus for events and tournaments.
One of the most exciting recent improvements at The Forum is the new commercial-grade kitchen, designed to meet high-volume food service needs for tournaments, expos, banquets and catered gatherings. The kitchen includes high-capacity cooking equipment, commercial-grade refrigeration and freezer space, food prep and sanitation systems built to modern code, an efficient layout for serving large groups and integrated fire suppression and ventilation.
With this addition, The Forum is positioned as a full-service event venue capable of supporting local, regional and tournament-scale events.
Maintaining and protecting municipal infrastructure
A core mission of the Facilities Department is the responsible stewardship of Presque Isle’s municipal assets. Preventative maintenance, infrastructure preservation and efficient operation reduce long-term costs and extend facility life.
The work includes routine HVAC, electrical and mechanical maintenance, roof and building repairs, lighting and efficiency upgrades, stormwater and drainage work, life-safety inspections and fleet and equipment servicing.
Sustainability and the future
The department continues to pursue infrastructure improvements, forestry efforts, environmental restoration projects and grant-funded efficiency upgrades that benefit the city long-term.
In October of this year, we applied to be a host site for the Maine Conservation Corps Tree Steward program. We are excited to welcome our tree steward, who will be a part of our facilities team from January to November 2026 as we focus on the health and maintenance of our urban forest.
Municipal facilities play a central role in community identity, recreation, public safety and economic health. The Facilities Department is proud to maintain these assets, support community events, and ensure that Presque Isle remains a thriving place to live, work and play.
Tyler Clark is the facilities director for the city of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 207-764-0491.
