Corinth officials have completed a deal to acquire a former factory building for possible use by the Fire Department or as part of the town’s recreation programs.

Corinth’s Board of Selectmen signed a purchase agreement on the Corinth Products Co. building last fall after town residents affirmed the acquisition during two separate votes. Corinth voters last approved the purchase by a 93-86 vote in May 2007.

The Board of Selectmen signed the final paperwork on the $225,000 purchase during a meeting last Thursday.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection cleaned up minor soil contamination on the site after the town’s decision to purchase the property.

Town Manager Donald Strout said the Corinth Fire Department is still interested in using part of the main building, which is located diagonally across Exeter Road from the town office. Part of the building complex also could be used by Corinth’s recreation program.

Any decisions on how, exactly, the former factory will be used likely will be made after the town meeting this winter, Strout said.

Corinth Products made pallets at the factory – and then later at the site now occupied by Corinth Wood Pellets – before the company was forced to shut down in August 2006. The lumber mill once produced 1,500 wood pallets a day.

Frank Thomas, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he hopes part of the property can be used for overflow parking for the recreation fields behind the town office.

“There are times in the spring when there are two games going on where there is just no parking at all,” Thomas said. “And it is just an accident waiting to happen.”

kmiller@bangordailynews.net

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