FORT FAIRFIELD JOURNAL

                                  Real.  Educational.  News.

 Fort Fairfield Journal     About Us     Contact Us    Advertising Rates      Subscribe       Distribution       Bible Reference     Our Library

T & G LLC Eye Municipal Building and Parking Lot

By:  David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal   April 12, 2006, p. 4

FORT FAIRFIELD - T & G, LLC has expressed an interest in acquiring the Fort Fairfield Municipal building, which includes the old Fire Station, Police Station and Town Office, as well as the Municipal parking lot in order to develop that portion of  Main Street.

   “T & G is looking to build a new structure that as I understand it, would incorporate retail and office space,” said Fort Fairfield Town Manager, Dan Foster.  “As of yet there have been no definitive plans regarding the reuse of the municipal structure.”

   Currently, the town council has made an offer on a price to T & G and are waiting for a response.

   A public hearing is scheduled for April 26 at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School cafeteria at 6:30 p.m., where citizens will have the chance to air their opinions and thoughts either for or against the move.

   “It should be made clear that this sale shouldn’t be for speculative purposes,” said town councilman, David McCrea.  “There needs to be actual investment in infrastructure, not holding the land and waiting to sell it for a quick buck later.”

   “Under similar circumstances in the past we have given purchasers three years to develop the land,” said Foster.

   The sale of the building could be considered a ‘blessing in disguise.’  Currently, the old Fire Department, Police Department and Municipal building occupy 10,000 square feet, but since the Fire Department has moved to the Community Center, only 3,000 feet are being utilized.  “Even though we only use 3,000 square feet, we have to heat all 10,000,” said Foster.  “But the Fire Department bays are partitioned off and kept at a cooler temperature.”

     The cost budgeted for heating the current building is $12,000 per year with electricity coming in at $8,000 annually.

   “We spend $20,000 per year on heat and electricity; to put it in perspective, the Public Library here in town has 5,000 square feet and only spends $5,000 per year on both heat and electricity.”

    No decisions have been made in relation to the use of the Municipal building/Fire Station. Councilors are waiting to hear input from the public at the public hearing.  “If there’s a citizen who feels compelled to say something either for or against the sale of this property, I encourage it to be said before a final decision is made by the council,” said Foster.   “I’ve lived here all my life and have mixed feelings about giving up the Fire Station from a historical perspective, but I have to look at budgets every day and ask myself,  ‘How do we do this?’  I’m just the administrator for the town.  I take my directions from the town council.”

   Three options have been suggested for the new Town Office location:

   1.)  Refurbish the old B & A station on Depot street.

   2.)   Acquire space at the local Hospital

   3.)  Build on to the Community Center near the Fire Department’s new location.  

   The B&A Station seems to be an ideal location because the town would be able to clean up, refurbish and utilize a historic landmark, that would compliment the currently-existing Railroad Museum exhibits at the same location.   The Railroad Museum is managed by Frontier Heritage Historical Society, a non-profit club that looks forward to opening up the museum exhibits as a tourist destination in the near future.    “I would really love to see the Municipal Building in the B & A station, but my enthusiasm is beginning to wane, since it is in the hands of a private owner who appears to be reluctant to sell,” said Foster.  “The building is a beautiful piece of Fort Fairfield’s history, it is still in good shape and since I have acquired the original blueprints of the building from Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway, I have found it would suit our needs fine.”

     One way other communities have wrested property from reluctant private owners is through the doctrine of Eminent Domain.  However, Foster frowns on that tactic.  “I don’t like that process because it always leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths and isn’t good for community relations.”

    While there is space available at the old Community General Hospital, “It is still private property and we’re not sure of all costs involved.”

   The third and most likely scenario would be moving the Police Department and Town Office to a new addition at the Community Center.   “This would seem the most viable under the circumstances.”  “While I can’t say for sure what our exact heat savings would be, if we based our projections on what it costs the Library for their refurbished building, we could be looking at saving the town up to $15,000 per year in heating and electric costs.”

   Foster admits to the need of a good work environment for town employees, something that is currently in desperate need of improvement at the current location, “But we need an appropriate space and to keep costs down and I don’t know how we can do that in our current building.”

   If the town is in agreement, and the building is sold and the area redeveloped, the people of Fort Fairfield would realize a double-positive impact.  “We would be saving money on fuel and electricity while at the same time making money via tax revenue that we currently don’t make off this area.”

   Foster encourages all who wish to have a say attend the public hearing at the High School on April 26.