Dirigo Assessing Group of Sidney will carry out Woolwich’s property revaluation, although before it begins the select board wants an informational meeting. “It’s what we promised the townspeople when we asked them to set aside money for this,” David King Sr., select board chairman, commented Wednesday night, April 5 when the board awarded the contract.

Dirigo, the lone bidder, provided several options to consider. The one selectmen chose includes assessing all of the town’s real estate, both residential and commercial, excluding personal property. The cost was $282,500 with the understanding the revaluation would be completed by April 1, 2025.

“We’re really in a position now where we have to get this done, or face the prospect of losing additional state reimbursement. Our backs are against the wall,” commented King before calling for a vote accepting the proposal.

When asked her opinion, Juanita Hennessey, the town’s assessing agent, said she had a high degree of confidence in Dirigo. She felt it was a good time to lock into a contract because many other towns were facing similar, state mandated property revaluations.

Because the cost of the revaluation was $50,000 less than voters raised, selectmen want to use most of the remaining balance, $40,000, for hot topping and needed repairs to unpaved roads.

Selectman Jason Shaw said the lack of prolonged freezing temperatures over the winter resulted in a good deal of damage to the town’s eight miles of dirt roads. Selectmen had budgeted $40,000 for improvements to unpaved roads two years ago but were only recommending $20,000 for the 2023-24 budget; because the revaluation will cost less than expected, that amount will be increased to $40,000. Another $20,000 will be added to the hot topping account for paving.

Before the start of their regular meeting, selectmen met with Town Administrator Kim Dalton to continue work on the warrant for the May 17 annual town meeting. They finalized about two-thirds of it. Selectmen are still waiting on budgets from the fire chief and EMS director, along with two special articles. One concerns town-wide broadband construction; the other addresses zoning for construction of future solar farms. Dalton warned the warrant must be completed by April 19 for the printing company to have the Town Report ready before town meeting.

During the meeting, King said the select board would include an article to consider two options from Bath Fire & Rescue: One would be for the town to enter into a contract with Bath to become Woolwich’s primary ambulance provider: the other, for Bath to provide backup ambulance services. The board hopes to finalize the warrant the week of April 10. In other business, the board hired Brewer’s Property Services of Wiscasset for landscaping at the Tanner Square Memorial, which honors Woolwich men and women who served in the U.S. military during World War II.

Selectmen Tommy Davis and Allison Hepler will host a broadband informational meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at Woolwich Central School. This is a venue change from the previously announced location, Nequasset Meetinghouse. Selectman Shaw noted the town floats were in at Nequasset Park.

Woolwich’s annual community picnic is Saturday, Aug. 12 on the grounds between the municipal building and Woolwich Historical Society’s Farmhouse Museum.