LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen voted Tuesday to accept bids of $100 each for two town properties and to abate the back taxes and sewer fees on each one for the new owners.
Ricky Tompkins of Livermore Falls bid $100 for a multistory house and property at 15 Sewall St. The property needs extensive renovations, he said.
Tompkins’ bid was dependent on selectmen abating the $5,047 owed in taxes and sewer fees.
“It is a building we will end up tearing down,” Town Manager Stephen Gould said.
The house has been vacant for several years.
“It is my understanding all the plumbing has been ripped out” and windows have been broken out, he said.
“It is structurally sound but needs to be renovated,” Tompkins said.
“Either let them have it or we tear it down,” Selectman Rodney Heikkinen said.
“From today forward you will start collecting taxes on it again,” Tompkins said.
The board unanimously accepted Tompkins’ bid.
Tammy Robson of Livermore Falls submitted a $100 bid for an apartment building on 11 Hidden Ave. She also asked that the more than $7,000 in unpaid taxes and sewer fees be abated.
She owns half the driveway and there is a shared right of way to the building off Cargill Street.
Gould said he was in the building last week and the interior walls, ceilings and roof are all rotted and it has asbestos siding.
The board accepted the bid and agreed to abate the taxes and sewer fees.
Both properties were previously put out to bid but no offers were received.
Tompkins and Robson each submitted the $100 with their bids.
Selectmen also signed letters to recognize efforts of Transfer Station attendants Reggie Tardif of Jay and Paul Clapsaddle of Wilton for keeping the loads of recyclables sent to ecomaine of Portland free of contaminants.
“Your efforts have resulted in zero contamination for the last four shipments which has saved the town hundreds of dollars in fees,” Gould said. “ecomaine has expressed their gratitude and pleasure of having received these rare shipments.”
Gould said he and Public Works Department foreman Bill Nichols recognize that they had to deal with difficult, uncooperative people as they worked to achieve this goal and enforce recycling policies.
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