High gasoline prices fuel Millinocket debate

MILLINOCKET – When people say that Millinocket needs more competition among its gasoline sellers to offset the area’s higher-than-average gas prices, Tim Darling smiles and nods.

The general manager of the Best Value Heritage Motor Inn on Central Street will open a high-end convenience store, Central Street Market, next to the inn by Memorial Day.

Its backers are negotiating with Tim Hortons quick service restaurant chain to occupy about a third of the 3,200-square-foot space, he said.

“We feel strongly that we will provide some sense of competition. We will provide a competitive gas price as well as a beautiful space to visit,” Darling said Friday.

Darling’s plans dovetail with continuing Town Council discussion over Katahdin region gasoline prices, which typically run at least 10 cents per gallon higher than in suburban or urban areas, and the need to lower them.

The Katahdin region, which has half its population at or below the poverty line, needs more competition, said Councilor Scott Gonya, who has proposed that the town get into the retail gasoline business through its Public Works Department pumps to help drive down prices.

Councilors argued during a meeting Thursday that Gonya’s proposal was loaded with pitfalls.

They included $87,000 in upgrades to the town’s pumps, a volatile gasoline market and a reluctance to have government engage businesses in competition using public resources, such as town workers to staff pumps.

“I don’t think this is something we should be looking at,” Councilor Bruce McLean said. “It seems a bit socialistic and not something we would be willing to look at.

“I don’t believe gasoline companies are gouging us,” McLean said. “I view this as something that the rest of the state is laughing at us about. Where do we stop at this? I think we should stop now.”

Gonya rattled off a list of government-sponsored economic initiatives, which might be termed socialistic, that the council majority has supported, including revolving loan funds to local businesses.

“Government does it all the time, and I just say that we really need to think hard before we do these things,” Gonya said.

Gonya did not mention money paid to the Millinocket Area Growth and Investment Council, the Katahdin region’s quasi-public economic development agency that McLean serves as executive director.

“There is nothing you are ever going to do on this council that will impact more people in a positive way and impact a small group of people in a negative way,” Gonya said of his idea.

Councilor Wallace Paul agreed.

“There are people who say, ‘Oh, here we go again,’ and there are also people who are taking this very seriously and are appreciating the effort we are putting into it,” he said.

Councilors Jimmy Busque and David Cyr declared themselves satisfied that with Darling’s new business set to open soon, Gonya had accomplished his goal. However, Darling said Friday that his planning preceded Gonya’s initiative by several months.

Friday, Gonya said he was shelving the idea, for now.

“If in November new competition isn’t generated, we have a different council and I feel there is enough support, I would bring it up again,” he said.