JAY — Selectpersons voted Monday to increase the sewer rate and awarded two tax-acquired properties to the top bidders.
The board increased the base sewer rate by $5 to make it $320 for up to 3,200 cubic feet of water use and increased the amount for water use over that amount by a half-cent to make it 10 cents per cubic foot over that. The action followed a public hearing.
The new rate will go into effect on July 1.
The increase is estimated to bring in $491,400 in revenue. It will cover about 89% of the overall operating and maintenance budget. Livermore Falls will also pitch in to cover its share of Sewer Superintendent Mark Holt’s salary and benefits and associated shared costs. Holt oversees the sewer departments for both towns and the Livermore Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The current sewer rate is a base $315 minimum-use for up to 3,200 cubic feet, plus 9.5 cents per cubic foot over that.
It is the first time since 2017-18 that the base rate has increased, Holt said.
Other business
Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere, with the help of Deputy Clerk Raeleen York, opened 46 bids received for two tax-acquired properties. Thirty-eight bids were received for 163 Macomber Hill Road and eight bids were received for 7 Jewell St.
The high bidder for a mobile home with two acres of land at 163 Macomber Hill Road went for $37,575 to Abby and Doug DiPasquale. Two vehicles are also on the property, a 1998 General Motors Co. 1500 and 2006 Chevrolet Equinox.
The high bid for a second foreclosed on property at 7 Jewell St., which includes a home heavily damaged by fire on .46 of an acre, was $8,148 received from Josh Ocharsky of Lewiston and Massachusetts. There is also an outstanding water bill owed for $28.55.
The Select Board authorized LaFreniere to check with the high bidders to make sure they want the property. No one has been allowed to go into the buildings. If the high bidders change their minds about the purchase, town staff will go down to the second highest bidders and so forth until they find a buyer.
The new owners have 10 days to complete the sale transaction.
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