MINOT — Enrollment in Minot-Hebron Athletic Association programs is way up, board of directors member Mike Rioux told selectmen Monday.
And with success comes problems, two in particular that Rioux wanted to discuss with selectmen: The need to develop a T-ball field and the need to clarify scheduling priorities and who has first dibs on use of soccer fields.
Rioux reported that much of the soccer action used to happen on the Poland fields, but there appears to be a shift toward more use of Minot’s fields.
Selectman Dan Gilpatric noted that a few years ago, the board had made it clear that the scheduling was up to the Minot-Hebron Athletic Association and had given the job to its president.
“The MHAA president can do it or can appoint someone else to be responsible for scheduling, and MHAA teams should have first dibs; others follow after,” Gilpatric said.
Regarding the development of a T-ball field, Rioux told selectmen it would be easy enough to fit one in behind the softball field, but he was aware that once built, there was going be an ongoing impact on the town’s road crew.
The town also appeared to have some money available for field development, Rioux pointed out — something in the range of $4,500 — that MHAA would be willing to match.
Selectmen agreed that the Highway Department is already busy mowing roadsides, cemeteries and ball fields, in addition to dealing with roads.
Selectman Dean Campbell said he was pleased that fields are being used heavily, but the the issue of maintaining them and the ongoing costs are going to have to be addressed.
“When the town developed the area down behind the school, we provided space for future expansion,” Campbell said. “Guess we have to find out what the costs are to develop T-ball and maintain the field.”
Rioux was asked to research the matter and report in four weeks.
In other business, Town Administrator Arlan Saunders reported that the six “Welcome to Minot” signs are showing signs of wear and he has ordered a new sign.
The intent, Saunders said, is to swap out the signs one at a time and have the old signs refurbished.
He also reported that he and Highway Supervisor Scott Parker are working to determine whether it might be less expensive to use double-arch pipes instead of a box culvert on Goodwin Road.
Parker also reported his crew has been ditching and replacing culverts on North Verrill and Lawrence roads. Both areas had problems this summer, sand and gravel washing out onto Route 124 being the prime problem on Lawrence Road.
Selectmen also appointed Sara Pulsifer as deputy town clerk through Jan. 15, 2015, effective immediately.
MINOT — Enrollment in Minot-Hebron Athletic Association programs is way up, board of directors member Mike Rioux told selectmen Monday.
And with success comes problems, two in particular that Rioux wanted to discuss with selectmen:
The need to develop a T-Ball field and the need to clarify scheduling priorities and who has first dibs on use of soccer fields.
Rioux reported that much of the soccer action used to happen on the Poland fields but there appears to be a shift toward increased use of Minot’s fields.
Selectman Dan Gilpatric noted that a few years ago the board had made it clear that the scheduling was up MHAA and had given the job its president.
“The MHAA president can do it or can appoint someone else to be responsible for scheduling, and MHAA teams should have first dibs, others follow after,” Gilpatric said.
Regarding the matter of the need to develop a T-Ball field, Rioux told selectmen that it would be easy enough to fit one in behind the softball field, but that he was aware that once built there was going be an ongoing impact on the town’s road crew.
The town also appeared to some money available for field development, Rioux pointed out, something in the range of $4,500, that MHAA would be willing to match.
Selectmen agreed that the highway department is already stressed what with mowing roadsides, cemeteries and ball fields – and that in addition to dealing with roads.
Selectman Dean Campbell said he was pleased that fields being used as heavily as they were, and that the issue of maintaining the fields, the on-going costs are going to have to dealt with.
“When the town developed the area down behind the school we provided space for future expansion,” Campbell said, “guess we have to find out what the costs are to develop T-Ball and maintain the field.”
Rioux was asked to research the matter and report back in four weeks.
In other business Town Administrator Arlan Saunders reported that the six “Welcome to Minot” signs are showing signs of wear and he has ordered a new sign.
The intent, Saunders explained, is, with the extra sign, to swap out the signs one at a time and have the old signs refurbished.
He also reported that he and Highway Supervisor Scott Parker are working on another option for the box culvert on Goodwin Road, that being to determine whether it might be less expensive to use double arch pipes.
Parker also reported that his crew has been ditching and replacing culverts on North Verrill and Lawrence roads. Both areas had problems this summer, sand and gravel washing out onto Rt 124 being the prime problem over on Lawrence Road.
Selectmen also appointed Sara Pulsifer as deputy town clerk through Jan. 15 of next year, effective immediately.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
