KINGFIELD — Someone vandalized the town’s Little League baseball field last weekend, and municipal officials are determined to bring the offender to justice.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department got a call Sunday morning that someone had driven a vehicle inside the new fence, tearing up the sod and creating deep ruts. Volunteers had worked during this past summer to refurbish the field, and they planned to install new bleachers and plant trees to finish the project. After so many hours of volunteer efforts, the damage was especially tough to witness, according to one selectman.
“I can’t believe someone would do that to our beautiful ball field,” Selectman Wade Browne said at Monday night’s board meeting.
One resident has offered a $500 reward for the offender’s conviction. Anyone with information should call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 207-778-2680 or email Deputy Brian McCormick at bmccormick@franklincountymaine.gov.
Selectmen reviewed the process to correct the property deed for John and Tammy Goldfrank. Many years ago, they bought the land between Longfellow’s Restaurant and the Carrabassett River from the Kingfield Water District. They since learned that the town, and not the Water District, owned the land.
The couple’s son Christopher Doucette and his wife, Melissa, now operate the business, and they would like to have a clear title to the property.
The Public Works Department has always plowed and maintained the lot, and the revised deed will continue the right of way. The revision will have to be approved either at the June town meeting or at a special town meeting, according to Administrative Assistant Leanna Targett.
Resident Brian Goss told selectmen he lost three potential offers to buy his home on the West Kingfield Road because of a dangerously dilapidated residence across the street. He was so discouraged, he said, that he was considering leaving town.
He reminded selectmen he had addressed them more than two years ago, before Tom Marcotte became the town’s code enforcement officer. Children had been playing on the roof the first time he addressed them, he said, and today, one of them is now in high school.
Marcotte told selectmen they could secure the residence legally, but they can’t remove the building without a court order. He explained that although state laws address dangerous buildings, the process requires following a strict legal process.
Marcotte said owners have until Nov. 10 to submit a plan to the security issues. He said the owners have been in contact, but he has not heard of a final disposal plan. If the owners refuse either to secure or remove the deteriorated mobile home by that deadline, selectmen can take legal action.
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