Mars Hill looks for sand storage locations

MARS HILL – Town councilors this week weighed their options for stricter storage of salt and sand and approved an agreement with a company developing a wind turbine farm on Mars Hill Mountain.

At its meeting Monday, the Town Council chose newly re-elected Todd Grass as chairman, and Alton McQuade as vice chairman.

Grass ran unopposed for a three-year seat on the council.

His was one of six open municipal seats up for grabs during Mars Hill’s annual elections.

Others elected this week included Harley York Jr. to a three-year term on the library board of trustees; Travis W. Kearney and Emmett Porter to two three-year terms as utility district directors; and incumbents Carolee Hallett and Trent Lundeen to two three-year terms on the SAD 42 board.

Because of the annual elections, councilors had a late start to their meeting, said Town Manager Ray Mersereau.

The council discussed the state-mandated sand-and-salt storage building that needs to be established in Mars Hill.

To prevent the runoff of salt and sand, state officials are moving toward requiring that the materials – which typically are left outdoors in large piles – be kept in buildings. The state is expected to pay 50 percent of the cost of the new building in Mars Hill.

The council discussed alternatives, aside from constructing a new building.

Mersereau said the council is exploring the possibility with state officials of using an existing facility that the state built in Mars Hill. “They have excess capacity there, and the state has to pay 50 percent of the cost for the new building anyway. This would be a way to share,” he said.

“Here’s an opportunity for the state and the town to cooperate on a mandated project that will cost both of us money,” he said.

Mersereau said state officials are looking into the matter and will “get back to us.”

He said the council plans to explore the option fully before moving forward on a stand-alone building.

In other news, the council:

. Approved an agreement to work with Evergreen Wind Power LLC. The company plans to develop a wind turbine farm on Mars Hill Mountain. It is hoping to see the property designated as a tax increment financing district by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

Mersereau said officials are waiting for formal approval of the designation from the department before moving forward.

. Reviewed a letter that the town’s code enforcement officer sent to Frank Draus, owner of a two-story apartment building at 22 Benjamin St. The building was destroyed in a fire in January, although the charred exterior walls, half of the roof and a large pile of rubble beneath it remain on the property.

Somebody complained to town officials that the building was dangerous. Councilors decided at their last meeting to draft a letter to Draus before considering further action. The letter gives Draus 30 days to tell the town what he intends to do with the building.