WOODLAND, Maine — Woodland will have a new salt and sand facility this year, thanks to approval from voters during the annual town meeting Tuesday.
About 50 of the town’s 1,200 residents turned out at the Woodland Consolidated School to approve budget items and learn results of elections held Monday.
With 216 of the town’s 830 registered voters casting ballots, William Barnum won a three-year seat on the Select Board with 109 votes, beating incumbent Matt Cole, who had 106.
Robert Butler and Ashley Brydon won seats on the Woodland School Committee. Butler earned 151 votes, and Brydon, a write-in candidate, had 52 votes.
Voters unanimously approved the Public Works Department’s request to spend up to $275,000 on the new salt and sand storage building, with funds from road maintenance reserves and town savings accounts.
“It will be 60 by 100 feet, with 10-foot cement walls, and will be 8 feet above the ground and 2 feet below the ground,” Select Board Vice Chairman Chris Fournier said.
The metal-clad facility will have clear side panels and a 40-foot opening, and will have electricity and a water supply.
Road work generated the most discussion. After voters approved spending $125,000 from reserves and savings to pave a roughly 1-mile portion of Fowler Road, residents wondered when other roads would receive attention.
When the Fowler Road stretch is done, public works will look at the next needs, Fournier said. He recommended using a car counter to determine which roadways are most traveled, hence in most need of repair.
“We are playing catch-up,” he said. “I’m not making any promises [but] I know eventually all our roads are going to get done. They have to.”
Woodland’s entire appropriations and assessment budget totals $2.3 million, an increase of about $23,000 over 2025. Revenues are anticipated at $2.47 million, according to budget documents included in the town report and meeting warrant listing.
Residents voted on numerous items with a show of hands, with moderator Lorraine Chamberlain and Deputy Clerk Chris Elliott each counting votes.
A majority of voters approved the following budget appropriations: $272.460 for general government, up $7,860 over the previous year; $829,328, public works, up $144,228; $64,124, insurance, down $16,126; $65,000, solid waste disposal with the Tri-Community Landfill, equal to last year; and $183,694 for fire and ambulance services contracted with Caribou Fire and Rescue, up $13,750; and $188,300 for the town’s portion of Aroostook County taxes, up $70,042.
Also approved: $2,500, Central Aroostook Humane Society, up $187 from last year; Northern Maine Development Commission dues, $2,500, up $366; $6,524, social services, up $246; $1,000, general assistance, equal to last year; $23,500, discounts and abatements, equal to last year; $1,000, office equipment reserve fund; $10,000, highway equipment reserve; $10,000, building repair reserve; and $5,000, assessment reserve.
Residents approved the transfer of funds as follows: $52,484 from the Maine Department of Transportation’s Local Road Assistance Program to offset capital road improvements; $30,000 from undesignated funds and retained earnings in case of unexpected equipment repair and replacement; and up to $10,000, if needed, to cover an unexpected overdraft.
Property taxpayers will receive a 3% discount on taxes paid in full by July 31. Interest will accrue at a rate of 4% on taxes not paid by Nov. 1.
The newly elected selectman and school committee representatives will be sworn in at the town office at a time of their choosing.
