PORTAGE LAKE, Maine — Residents of the town of Portage Lake have approved the purchase of a new fire truck, the installation of a new roof on the municipal building and a land lease for Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club’s new clubhouse.
The town of Portage Lake held a special town meeting on Wednesday, June 26, to approve three municipal decisions involving $105,000 in spending. Portage Lake town manager Lawrence Duchette said that about 25 people attended from the town of fewer than 400 people.
The voters approved the allocation of $50,000 from the town’s woodland harvesting revenue to pay for a new fire truck. In 2018, Portage’s town woodlands generated $131,399 in revenue from timber harvests.
Voters also approved the appropriation of $55,000 from the surplus account to pay for a new roof on the town municipal building.
Residents also voted to authorize a 99-year lease of 4.78 acres of land on Mill Road, jointly owned by the town and Irving Woodlands, to the Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club for a new clubhouse and groomer garage.
Final details of the lease will be determined in the future between the town, the club and Irving Woodlands, Duchette said.
In other Portage Lake news, the town plans to set its tax rate in August. The town’s 2018 property tax rate is $14.95 per $1,000 of property value.
Portage Lake will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, on accepting a Community Development Block Grant microenterprise grant for Wildlife Artistry, the business of taxidermist Steve Jandreau. Duchette said that Wildlife Artistry sought a $50,000 grant, which has been approved, to expand its current building.
