PITTSFIELD, Maine — Pinnacle Park, the local ski area, may not be covered with snow right now, but Councilor Gary Jordan reported Tuesday night that the recreational area is really living up to its potential as a four-season park.
“We’ve started some work clearing the brush,” Jordan said. The brush was collected, piled and moved by area scouts and students fulfilling community service requirements at Maine Central Institute.
“All of the brush is being chipped and laid on the trails,” Jordan said. The next project will include painting the ski lodge.
Jordan said many of the Boy, Cub and Girl Scouts are working on individual merit badges at the slope. “Their involvement this year is new and it couldn’t be working out better,” Jordan said. “Wow, they really have some energy.”
He said the area will be opened up for camping by the Scouts as well as jamborees and other gatherings. Jordan said a series of events, such as fishing derbies and envirothons will also be held for students at the park this summer.
In January, the town was awarded a $32,200 Riverfront Community Development Grant to upgrade and renovate Pinnacle Park as a year-round recreational facility. It will include walking trails, fishing platforms, a skating rink and skateboarding area, and a boat launch.
“We are so fortunate to have this outside learning environment,” Town Manager Kathryn Ruth said. “This is exactly what we wanted to happen.”
In other business, the council saved about $7,000 annually by switching from the Maine Municipal Association’s risk pool to a commercial insurance provider through Lehr Agency. Councilors agreed that the policies were nearly identical and coverage was the same.
The major difference, the town manager explained, was that new items, such as vehicles or buildings, would have to be added to the policy during the year. With the Maine Municipal Association, she said, those items were added at the start of the next year.
The council also:
ä Accepted the bid of T. Buck Co. of Auburn for $55,975 for a new water pump and installation at the Pittsfield Water Works pumping station on Peltoma Avenue. The town obtained a state revolving loan of $72,100 for 20 years at zero interest with $30,900 in principal forgiven by the state’s drinking water program. This is a federal stimulus package project.
ä Approved $9,980 in repairs at Powers Cemetery, which includes repairing 61 monuments, cleaning and straightening others and rejoining and resetting tops on 17 monuments.
ä Accepted a $10,800 grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for new radio equipment upgrades for the Pittsfield Police Department.
ä Ratified the union agreement with the police department.
ä Returned the low bid of Sitewerx, which had a work conflict to complete the Pittsfield Ron Curtis Airport apron work, and awarded the bid to Cianbro Cos. at a $409 difference.
ä Accepted cash donations of $6,885 for the community swimming pool fund, and $59,075 for the Pittsfield Public Library capital campaign.
ä Accepted the gift of 18 Adirondack chairs, donated by Walpole Woodworkers, Cianbro, Somatex, Dysart’s, Dr. Flint Reid, Pittsfield Aviation, and Realtor Jen Siter, that are being painted by area artists and will be placed around town for the community to enjoy.
The council also scheduled just two meetings on July 7 and Aug. 11.
487-3187