Drew Plantation votes to disband

DREW PLANTATION – The state Legislature will next get to decide whether Drew Plantation should be allowed to deorganize into a township, town officials said Tuesday.

Residents voted 13-8 in favor of deorganization during a town meeting Saturday that clears the way for the Legislature’s consideration, First Assessor Kathy Stinson said.

Drew Plantation, population 55, is in northeast Penobscot County near Bancroft, a town just across the county line in Aroostook County.

Stinson said she supports deorganization, but admitted to some mixed feelings.

“I am a little torn in between both. A lot of people hate to have it done because of the history of the town, but other people want to get it done because of the taxes,” Stinson said Tuesday. “I am not really sure about it.”

Former First Assessor James Potter, who opposes deorganization, had similarly mixed feelings.

The tax rate in the plantation consistently has been high and is pegged at 21.70 mills, comparable to larger communities such as Houlton, although Drew Plantation doesn’t have the services to show for it, just garbage collection, he said.

“It might save a little money in taxes. I’m not campaigning on what my personal preference is now, though,” he said.

Stinson estimated that taxes would drop by as much as half if deorganization goes through. Potter questioned whether taxes would eventually rise again as county taxes or valuation increases.

Deorganization will make it more difficult for residents to do routine business, as town offices will close and the closest municipality, Springfield, is 15 miles away, Potter said.

“We’re remotely set up here. It will be 15 miles to Springfield. If you want to do certain things, I would assume you would have to do them there,” Potter said.

Town officials have chronic problems filling town government positions, Stinson said.

Residents voted 10-3 in July to move ahead with deorganization in a surprisingly low turnout. Last spring residents voted 21-2 in favor of looking further into deorganizing.

The board of assessors will next inform the Legislature and the Penobscot County government of the vote, Stinson said. No legislative vote has been scheduled.

If the Legislature agrees with the idea, Drew Plantation residents would have to agree to it in another vote, this time with a two-thirds majority, Stinson said. That vote is expected in November. If the idea passes, deorganization would occur in July 2006.

Under deorganization, the area would become Drew Township, and town students would go to Lee Academy or Kingman schools. They could go elsewhere, but parents would have to pay for transportation, Stinson said.

The assessors are trying to launch an association that would help maintain Drew Cemetery. Anyone interested in joining is asked to call Stinson at 456-7017.