MINOT — Selectmen reached agreements Monday to collect past-due property taxes, plus accumulated interest and fees, on two tax-acquired properties.
Selectmen directed Town Administrator Arlan Saunders to prepare an agreement with Sandra Pellerin, personal representative for the estate of Frank Smith, that will enable her to acquire the property at 337 West Minot Road.
Selectmen also met with Susan Walker to discuss final measures Walker needs to take to prevent the sale by bid of Christina Walker’s property at 399 Minot Ave. The property has been in arrears for taxes for years and this year selectmen had been unable to contact Christina Walker to make last-minute arrangements that might prevent selling it.
According to the agreement reached Monday, Susan Walker must make full payment of all overdue taxes, plus interest, fees and expenses incurred by the town, before the board’s July14 meeting.
If she does, selectmen will sign a quitclaim deed to return the property to Christina Walker. If she fails to meet the terms of the agreement, selectmen will open the three bids the board has received on the property and proceed from there.
In other business, Saunders informed the board he received notice that Tom Verrill, the town’s longtime sealer of weights and measures, was retiring and the board should appoint a successor as soon as possible.
By a 4-0 vote, the board named David Gilpatric to the position. His son, Selectman Daniel Gilpatric, abstained from voting.
Saunders also reported that he met with Auburn Water and Sewer District officials to examine potential erosion problems at culvert crossings on Simeon Road.
It was his understanding that the district intends to apply for a grant to address erosion problems in the Lake Auburn watershed and that several of the culverts on Simeon Road would be on the list needing attention.
Saunders figured the cost for replacing culverts on Simeon Road might be in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, with the town being responsible for 40 percent of that.
Highway Supervisor Scott Parker reported that his crew is still ditching on Marston Hill Road in preparation for paving. Ditching on a section of Death Valley Road remains to be done and preparation for paving on Mountain View Drive is complete.
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