MILLINOCKET, Maine — Town Manager Eugene Conlogue is wondering whether Gov. Paul LePage is having state officials withhold about $720,000 in state aid to force Millinocket and East Millinocket to do more for the Dolby Landfill, he said Thursday.
Conlogue told councilors during a meeting Thursday and said in a memo to the area’s state representatives on Jan. 18 that he had continued “to hear rumors that the governor may be embargoing these funds.”
State officials have said that at least $50,000 in Sudden and Severe Impact funds are “in the pipeline” and headed to Millinocket but that the order to release an additional $720,000 from the program “is still on the governor’s desk,” Conlogue said.
Sudden and Severe Impact funds become available when a community suffers a significant loss in taxable value. Over the past year, Millinocket has lost more than $96 million in taxable value from its paper mill, Conlogue has said.
The last $20 million drop in taxable value occurred as the result of negotiations on the sale of the mill to Cate Street Capital in August.
In a move seen as critical to the eventual sale of the East Millinocket and Millinocket paper mills to New Hampshire-based Cate Street, the Legislature agreed, with many misgivings, to take ownership of the Dolby Landfill last year. State officials said no buyer would touch the mills so long as the landfill, and the huge potential liability it represented, was part of the deal.
But the state and towns have balked at operating the landfill, fearing its costs. The towns’ leaders also fear that a lack of expertise and equipment would leave them ill-prepared to manage the landfill.
Millinocket offered the state a $50,000 one-time payment to help it operate the landfill. East Millinocket also made an offer but that town’s officials haven’t disclosed it.
State officials have not responded to either town’s offers, and state Rep. Herbert Clark, D-Millinocket, has proposed a bill that would make state government responsible for landfill operations.
“The governor continues to examine and gather information on the costs associated with the landfill,” LePage’s spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said Thursday evening. “Additionally, he’s looking at the history and valuation of the mills to gain a better understanding of how the towns have handled this issue.”
Clark, Conlogue and state Sen. Douglas Thomas, R-Ripley, are among those who hope to meet with LePage to discuss the apparent logjam. No meeting date has been set. Conlogue said he hoped the $720,000 would be released soon.
“These funds are desperately needed to pay our bills,” Conlogue said in an email to Clark and Thomas.
The council and Millinocket School Committee have been battling over a $158,000 portion of the Sudden and Severe Impact funds that school board members believe the school system should get.
Council members maintain, however, that they have funded the School Department’s requested budget fully and that the schools would not be entitled to anything beyond that.
No! No way! Paul wouldn’t ever do such a thing. That’s not like everything he’s shown us for the past year at all. Well, maybe if someone failed to kiss his behind. He likes it when you do that. Pucker up Millinocket…or you could come out and vote accordingly next November.
And how do you think voting next November has anything to do with this situation?
Are you suggesting we dump Olympia Snowe? I agree with that, but I can’t figure out how that would impact this situation.
Maybe you think that if we get rid of Obama, we will all be better off? I agree with that too, but I don’t know how that has anything at all to do with this situation.
What are you talking about??
Vote in November to get the legislators who are kissing King Paul’s butt out office.
The governor of Maine has very little constitutional power to do anything without the approval of the legislature.
If one or both houses of the legislature flip to the Democrats any new Lepage policies are dead in the water.
If both houses flip and end up with a veto proof Democratic majority then the damage that has been done so far can also be reversed.
Can everyone say “Lame Duck Govnah”!
He thinks we will be voting Democrats back in control of the Legislature and start returning things to the way they were for 40 years. That is what he is talking about. Putting the Liberals back in control so they can go back to messing everything up. This person thinks we are that dumb.
I wonder what he did based on the rumors that the Millinocket town manager has heard?? IS that all you need, a bunch of rumors to feed your anti-LePage crusade?
Oh NO EntitledOne, the “Crusade” of the people are always counting on Mr. LePage himself to drop another hate/”silly”(I tried to use a more straight forward word here before but the silly sensors won’t allow it) bomb on us to feed our disgust and clear a wide path to the voting booths. He’s given us much to work from don’t cha think?
you need that ride to the clinic yet???
The money has been held up. The paperwork to release it is with the governor and not moving properly.
The only speculation involved is why the governor is going back on his word and is holding this up. The educated guess presented is actually very likely to be the truth of the matter.
Otherwise the governor should explain why he is not doing his job.
Well, Bennett DID say that it’s still on his desk?
Millinocket didn’t vote for him last time, and probably wont this time either. That’s part of the problem up there. They want to be independent and provide for themselves and have traditional use on someone else land, but they want every federal and state handout they can get.
Whats up with you and Millinocket? Back off. there will be NO NP, get over it…
I personally dont care if there is a park or not, But I am all for economic growth from wherever it comes from, regardless if it is in Medway, East, or Millinocket. I do believe that the anti park people that think the forest industry and the mills are going to produce the jobs they did 10 or 20 years ago is nuts, This area will continue to get worse until people start supporting other business and ideas.
Also the three towns need to put differences behind them and work together, however until Millinocket stops thinking that there still the top dog and the sun rises and sets in the once Magic city, little will change.
Who are you kidding? You and people like you ARE the reason the towns can’t get together, you dump on Millinocket every chance you get, you just did it again in your response to me! Nobody in Millinocket has said that they are “TOP DOG” that is a perception you and people like you have. Yes you do want a NP, thats why your comments are so ignorant. Grow up you sound like a cry baby.
PS: Nobody has EVER EVER said that the mills would produce the jobs they did 20 or 30 years ago EVER! Thats just another perception of yours.
BDN would write an article about an assumption because it is their daily attack on our Governor.
It isn’t like Lepage doesn’t deserve it!
Any news medium reporting on the governors antics would seem like an attack to you and your ilk. Reporting that he’s incompetent and unethical isn’t an attack, it’s honesty.
Perfectly said.At least the MHPC drones aren’t out yet.
Yes, and the BDN does it daily. Honesty? What a laugh. See you in a few years old boy when people laud Lepage and your ilk is refuted.
Oh, so that’s when Hell is going to freeze over and pigs will sprout wings. Thanks for the heads up.
Yes we all know, any information that isn’t properly spun in the usual republican fashion is just Lame stream media rants………. give it a rest man!
I forgot, who did BDN endorse for Gov. last time around when Lepage was elected?
I think it was someone who is actually competent.
Here’s one “government takeover” the logging industry doesn’t seem to mind.
Millinocket has enjoyed a wonderful life but has gone from one of (if not the most) the most affluent towns in New England to one of the poorest. Their councilors should try to pull themselves out of their predicament, which was no one else’s fault, instead of accusations towards state officials. That area had little concern for anyone else in their heyday and there are crocodile tears from the surrounding towns for them now.
Where are the tears?
Childish comments from you and lollipop, just make me want to avoid the whole area. Grow up, they are your neighbors.
Really
Yes, Really!!
Are you 10 or 12 years old?
just turned 9
I think you forgot the NO between are and crocodile! Because frankly as an East Mill resident I find only a few uses for Millinocket – 1. they have a Rite Aid ( but so does Lincoln and Bangor ) 2. The school board meetings and the town council meetings provide much needed comedy relief since the crap on cable lately sucks!
Do they still have a strip club?
That would create a double negative which would mean a positive. There are crocodile tears, or should I have said there are no tears at all? East has always shown a disdain for Millinocket, and vice versa.
We call it the modern version of Laugh In.
well said. I didn’t see the State helping out Monson when their mill went south, and I can go on and on about how many one industry mills went south. Apparently, and according to other poster’s, we didn’t pay enough TAXES!
Your animosity toward the logging industry is glowingly obvious. I encourage you to become informed before riding too many coattails. Are you attempting to suggest that the FEDERAL government is assisting with the cleanup? I’m certain you realize that it’s the state of Maine taking care of this problem, right?
For now, But eventually the feds will be asked jump in to clean it up.
Millinocket is a laughing stock. The school board wants to sue the town. Former Town officials suing the town for unlawful labor practices. And this fellow is the top honcho, the guy in charge. I wonder what his political affiliations are if they play a role in his suggestions?
Maybe just maybe the state doesnt have a spare 7ooooo dollars or so to get right up to Millinocket fast enough to satisfy the town manager.
I sure hope Penguin is holding out in order to have the town do more. I don’t understand why Millinocket thinks its up to the taxpayers of Maine to save them. Now that the charcoal plant is running, the local taxpayers ought to be able to cough up some money for this bad deal that we’re stuck with.
I’ll give one reason why the state should help(save) the towns in the Katahdin region.
For decades the towns of Millinocket and East Millinocket have paid in more than their share of taxes and have been what is called a “minimum receiver in state subsidy.” If you don’t like that go cry on Baldacci’s shoulder. We have earned the right to get back on our feet.
Sounds like AWM (advanced welfare mentality) to me. What goes around comes around. This is what all those precious “rights” come down to; a thumb up your butt and a hand held out for a check. And naturally you accept no responsibility for your situation.
Sorry squirrly you are mistaken with what I said. We want what we are entitled to. We’re not looking for handouts and most people in this area are working(not with their thumbs up their butt). At least the ones that want to, the unemployment bums and SSI recipients well we all have them in every town.
I say cut everyone off from SSI and unemployment benefits after 3 months thats long enough to find a job somewhere in the United States.
Be careful. You might get exactly what you wish for. I think it would be poetic if you did. By your own criteria so much has been done for you already you deserve zip.
Nope the towns are entitled to the sudden and severe money for a few years until the towns can adjust(cut, combine or shrink items) the budgets to reflect what they will get in tax dollars. We deserve the money and you can try to spin it any way you want. I would like to thank you personally for providing us with your tax dollars:)
That’s a pathetic way to end your statement when you previously posted that stripping people of unemployment and SSI of their meager benefits. How many millions did we spend on Dolby?
Your whining is severe, certainly not sudden however.
KatahdinMan espousing typical Millinocket arrogance
You continue to hit nail directly on its’ head!!!
Now, how is it that you have paid in more than their share of taxes? Property taxes go to the towns, the mills provided everyone with a comfortable living income, and your income taxes are based upon, just like everyone else’s, what you earn.
You paid no more state taxes than anyone else. What exactly is a “minimum receiver in state subsidy”? You had the mills to provide whatever you needed. Obviously, you were not a minimum receiver of state subsidy, how long has Baxter State Park been around?
No one is entitled to anything, you may be eligible, but not entitled.
“Now that the charcoal plant is running..” It is? Where?
Millinocket and its leadership cadre and their fervid supporters have certainly established their community as a veritable Ft. Knox of conspiracy theory and hair brained economic planning. Just about everything about the reality of this life doesn’t suit. Needless to say they are the eternal martyrs and victims. They have been working on this role for a long time and they have it nailed.
Well said Sir!!!
Gov. Lepage should put a sign on the way into Millinocket that says.
“Who invited you to come here?
Regrettably Sir, that sign and the attitude that goes with it are already here. And some folks, and business’s, wonder why it’s so hard to find good worker’s ? It is way past time to dump this attitude and realize that Maine is living in the 21st century. If Maine can’t attract business’s, and the worker’s to meet their need’s, simply because of a ‘the Maine way or the highway’ attitude, then Maine has no one to blame but itself for letting both much needed business’s run from the state, with their revenue producing job’s, and at the same time watch the State’s future leave at the same time when the kid’s graduate and find jobs in other State’s that are a lot more friendly to people moving in who want to make a future for themselves and their eventual families. The last Census taken, and the follow-up questions sent around, painted a pretty bleak picture in terms of how people percieved their future in Maine. Folks, it’s time to come out of the hills and woods and adapt. Once you start, it’s not such a shock. It’s also gonna benefit everyone as well. It’s also gonna bring business’s and jobs here too !
Sad part is the people who live north of RT 2 have been told for years that they are only poor because of liberals who live on the coast… When in fact the entire northern part of Maine don’t even come close to paying for the services they demand.
I like this idea. Give Us A Sign. We have a group of people here that want traditional use. What they can not see is that their traditional use is piling up at Dolby. We can not afford to much more of what the leadership is promoting. What we will be hearing more and more from these same organized groups is “If only we could do away with the regulations”. Then they could make the whole area a land fill. The sign could be planted right on top of that mountain sludge.
We gave them 17 million+ dollars in exchange for 400 to 600 good paying paper mill jobs.
Now we find out Cate st doesn’t even have a solid business plan and all that our money bought is a toxic waste dump and a brief case full of speculation.
Gene the only thing that is truly going to stop making you look sooooooooooo ridiculous is – Stop drinking Dr. Smith’s kool aid because there is no s&s money till at least next State Fiscal Year IF THEN! How many Indian kids has he promised you this August?
would you please grow up?
Yep, pro-park fanatics are out in full force. Get a life!
perhaps if we had pro gay marriage, pro park, pro welfare for all, pro health for all and lepage was gone, this state would be a fantasy come true with no financial or social problems….lol
Hey Conlogue, why should I or any other taxpayer in the State or the country “chip in” to help you clean up the toxic waste you created, only benefiting the people of the Millinocket area?
We didn’t create it and we didn’t benefit from it. Don’t you ever get tired of living off handouts? YOU clean it up. What a bunch of boot lickers.
Hey Hosebeast, before you say that the mills “only benefited the people of Millinocket”, maybe you should take a course in economics and then look at the impact those mills have had across the entire state. They generated far more revenue per capita than almost any area in the state for many decades with most tax dollars heading south. The Katahdin area pretty much got nothing for those dollars. Maybe if the state would like to return a fraction of that money to the area that they neglected for so long it way more than cover the cost of a landfill. By the way-it was not the local taxpayers who created the mess, it was the mill owners who should be responsible.
How can you say the “Katahdin area pretty much got nothing for those dollars” when we all know the schools, towns, public pool and whatever else the town felt entitled to, was paid for by the mills? You got it on the front end for YEARS!
Cause the state is gonna end up with the landfill regardless. Corporations created the toxic dump, and the regulators were out gunned. Any one here know how many super fund sites there are in the state abandonded by corporate america for the taxpayer to clean up? One hundred twenty-six. Again, the profits get privatized, and the real cost of doing business gets socialized.
Corporate Welfare – the “good” welfare only republicans love.
yessah
Well folks like you must like collecting the other Welfare programs that Democrats loved expanding while us taxpayers had our pockets picked . So folks like yourself can continue to live the good life while the rest of us struggle to survive. Though finally those programs are heading for the chopping block because the well has run dry. No more “money trees” for the liberals to tap.
The Bangor School system gets their paper from Brazil, not Maine.
Gene is a big Democrat so this is his way of going after the Governor. Of course this is read meat for the BDN’s daily attacks or spin against the Governor. I am still waiting for someone to show me the fact checking of state of the state for the last Gov’s 7 speeches.
Maybe Conologue ought to keep his mouth shut until he has actual evidence that this is happening. If LePage isn’t, it would be a good reason for him to do so…
A town manager should actually reside in the town they manage.
Why wouldn’t he just pick up the phone and ask Lepage what’s going on with the cash ? This looks like the town manager is just playing a game. Get to work ! Time to stop spending money you don’t have !
The far right elected a Maine governor whose entire qualification consisted of a career of buying up damaged goods then selling them at an enormous profit by flimflamming the public into believing they got a great deal.
… and what we got was a dishonest snake oil salesman who keeps trying to sell damaged goods by flimflamming the public into believing we are getting a great deal.
… and so it goes.
You have your mill running again and at some cost that you were fully aware of going into it. Now you are complaining the the Governor may be witholding funds becuase of your drop in economic value. Why do the taxpayers have to continue to bail you out. I for one am getting tired of this whole Millinocket issue. Start operating the dump and make it into a viable operation you want your cake and you have it there is no more frosting. I want to clarify that this comment is for the area not just one town or the other as employment in the mills means something to all the surrounding communities.
The mill is not running…only in East Mill
see my eidt. my comments are to the general area that seems to always be in the news.
I hope he is holding back on state funds. Someone needs to start saving somewhere, you can’t just keep spending and spending.
saving his office is a big vaccum.like the tubs in the bank.gone
What’s too bad is that Millinocket got a great boost from “American Loggers”If that could be sustained,that would benefit everybody.
No matter what takes place here and how badly the politicians mouth off, you can’t take the beauty out of this area. Baxter State Park is an organization that operates with class and recognizes the benefit of its visitors to this area. They manage to keep from getting slimed by the locals by remaining aloof. In the end, the clientele and visitors that appreciate the outdoor recreation in this area will be what sustains the businesses and they will live here along with the retirees who want to live and let live. Enough posturing and snorting and blowing by the manager. He need so go find another barnyard to crow in and stop making us look selfish and greedy.
That is an old Mardens trick. Hold the cash on the price agreed and beat them up for more. Apparently the Gov thinks his word means nothing. Why should it?
Yet once again more divisiveness! Time to get rid of Eugene
If Eugene C was a preacher he would be Reverend Jim Jones.
I find it interesting that the BDN staff will let certain poster’s post go….but yet, if you post often they seem to to scrutinize the same poster?
I can certainly understand why you would screen post, but if you know that a person isn’t going beyond your bounds, then why? Freedom of speech is what we are all about, and I don’t single out anyone
I think someone needs a tishu
not just him all the rest to and start over