PERU — Walter Kilbreth of ARC Enterprises in Kingfield told selectmen Monday night he is interested in buying the old Diamond Match factory for his metal fabrication business.
Kilbreth said the company specializes in large plate girders for bridges. The railroad is discontinuing service to its Kingfield facility. If ARC purchases the Peru property, it will be used to take rail shipments of large steel plates and store them until they can be trucked to the Kingfield plant.
Selectmen told Kilbreth he needs to talk with the Planning Board to find out what could be done with the property next to the Androscoggin River.
ARC would want to demolish the other structures on the property, build a garage for a large forklift to unload the rail cars and load the trucks, and fence the property, Kilbreth said.
Kilbreth said there was a possibility that the site could be used for fabrication in the future, but that is not in the current plans.
The site is owned by JC Demolition Co., which intended to use it for dismantling and crushing old automobiles, but have found environmental restrictions too burdensome. The property is in the floodplain and flooded in 1936, 1952 and 1987.
In other business, selectmen discussed a major washout of Robert and Diane Richard’s driveway on East Shore Drive that deposited silt in Worthley Pond and adjoining streams. Code Enforcement Officer Jack Plumley was not present so the selectmen took no action.
During public participation time, a resident repeated a complaint he heard from a neighbor that someone recieved a full truckload of town sand that was loaded with town equipment. Pulsifer said he did not like “second-hand” information, but would investigate the matter. He said residents are welcome to a few buckets of town sand, but not a truckload.
Pulsifer reported that selectmen have been unable to inspect the Recreation Committee checkbook to determine how money was spent. Selectman Larry Snowman said he believes the town should be able to see the checkbook and bank statements of organizations that receive town funds. Pulsifer said selectmen will try to get reimbursements for some funds they believe were improperly spent.
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