Orrington board awards boat landing contract to Sargent Corporation

The Orrington Select Board voted to authorize a notice of award to Sargent Corporation for the old landing committee project, the low bidder by a couple hundred thousand dollars. The board also approved a purchase option agreement for a 15-acre East Orrington parcel tied to a possible battery storage project, and heard updates on absentee ballots, paving, and the Eagle Point Energy plant.

Key points

• The board voted 5-0 to authorize a notice of award to Sargent Corporation for the old landing project; Sargent was the lower of two bids by a couple hundred thousand dollars.
• The board approved a purchase option agreement for a 15-acre parcel on East Orrington (map 009, lot 10c), with option payments of $9,000, $12,000, $21,000, and $27,000, and a purchase price of $750,000 if exercised.
• Town staff said absentee ballots for the fall election arrived and absentee voting can begin Monday, October 4; the office will close at 2 p.m. Thursday for software training.
• The board approved the September 14 meeting minutes and the accounts payable warrant, which included a county tax bill of close to $900,000.
• Staff said Wellman is paving in town, including an overlay on Richardson and work on Senate Drive, Kings Mountain Road, Hobbs, and New Meadows.
• The board discussed the Brewer Lake boat launch, where a sand deposit makes launching difficult; the fire chief asked about dredging so the rescue boat could launch there.

Next steps

• Sargent Corporation is expected to forward a contract within about two weeks, with a potential mobilization date of October 12.
• A groundbreaking ceremony at the landing site is being finalized to coincide with the Greenfield Trust visit on October 21.
• The next select board meeting is scheduled for October 13, since there will be no meeting on Columbus Day, October 12.
• Staff will look into the history of dredging at the Brewer Lake boat launch and possible permitting.

Read the full transcript