May 6, 2011
Maine

Wind energy studied in Woodstock

By Ken Briggs, Advertiser Democrat, www.advertiserdemocrat.com 5 May 2011

WOODSTOCK – On Tuesday, May 3, the Woodstock Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to direct Town Manager Vern Maxfield to appoint a committee to study the Commercial Wind Energy Facility Ordinance Provisions drafted over the past months by a five-town committee.

There will be at least one member from the Planning Board and one from the Friends of Spruce Mountain.

The committee will report back to the Selectmen for any further action. A proposed wind turbine setback was voted down at town meeting, in part, due to reports that this model ordinance was on its way.

No time frame was established.

This summer’s major road projects will be reclaiming parts of the Gore Road and paving Mills Road.

Maxfield commented that”we’ve already spent $4,000 on patch, this has cut us back on what we can do.”

It was agreed that Gore Road “is way beyond anything but reclaiming.” The total cost is estimated at $80,000, while Mills Road has been allocated at $34,000.

One of Woodstock’s earliest efforts at reclamation was on Cushman Road. The highway department is looking into repairing it. Maxfield noted “We got taken on that job six years ago.” The contractor has gone out of business.

There was discussion on how best to stretch road money so as to take care of Curtis Hill, Dudley and Heikkinen roads.

Selectman Steve Bies commented that “reclaiming a half-mile a year isn’t going to cut it.”

Asphalt costs have driven up the price of road maintenance in recent years. Some area towns have opted for large bonds to pay for the work in a single go; Woodstock prefers to pay as you go, but Selectman Ronald Deegan said that “there may be a breaking point.”

Four Woodstock soon-to-be graduates were approved for $400 each from the Woodstock Scholarship fund.

The company installing smart meters will be asked to attend a board meeting to answer many questions.

The number of 30-day tax notices mailed out by the town went down significantly this year, from 149 to 130.

Money allocated for the purchase of a defibrillator for the Woodstock Elementary School has been returned to the General Fund, as principal Jolene Littlehale was able to have one donated.

Former Selectman Bruce Korhonen was the lowest bidder for the town’s summer mowing. He will maintain the ball field, boat ramp and other areas for $2,995.

The town’s 1999 Sterling plow truck is ready to be sold by sealed bid. Minimum bid is set at $20,000. Proceeds will go towards the price of the new International, on view at the town offices.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 17.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/06/wind-energy-studied-in-woodstock/