With Jeff Verney’s $6,800 estimate, Alna selectmen plan to put a Pinkham Pond parking lot on next month’s town meeting warrant, First Selectman Melissa Spinney said.

 

That price for a 75-foot by 75-foot lot “seemed very reasonable,” Spinney said. Still in play is a smaller lot the town and state have talked about the state putting in, if the town gives the state an easement for it. That one needs to be measured to make sure a lot would meet the shoreland zone ordinance; then it could go on the warrant, she said.

 

Spinney described as “very reasonable” a $500 Emergency Management Agency request to cover shelter costs in case of a storm. That, too, will go on the warrant, she said.

 

Town meeting is 10 a.m. March 21 at the fire station, Town Clerk Liz Brown said.

 

Spinney said the board took up those and other town meeting topics Feb. 5. In email responses, she said the warrant will have two new requests for contributions. The town got a $1,500 request from Central Lincoln County Adult Ed, she said. “They helped one citizen in the past three years from Alna. We discussed that we pay almost $6,000 to (Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12) for adult ed already. We are putting it on the warrant for citizens to decide.”

 

She said the board is doing the same for a new request from New Beginnings. “They helped one youth one day last year and would like $500.”

 

Repairs selectmen and Sand Building Road residents have been talking over, involving an estimated $2,500 for culverts, will also go to voters, Spinney said. She said the board suggested the town contribute 40% and “there was a lengthy debate of opinions from the public. We will let town meeting decide.” 

 

In other business, Spinney said the office has been bustling the past week getting ready earlier than ever for the annual audit. The board hopes the audit will be done in time for the town report.

 

Alna’s food pantry has a sponsor, Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program. “We signed the paperwork (Feb. 3). They are awesome. Thanks to your article they saw we needed sponsorship and offered.”

And the final tally raised for the community energy fund to help residents in need stay warm was over $3,000, Spinney said. Reached Friday, Second Selectman Doug Baston, who had the idea, said “That was really heartwarming. It says a lot about this little town of ours.” About 22 donations came in, two that together totaled $700, for a grand total of $3,280, he said. Colby & Gale will get the checks to benefit Alna residents, Baston added.