Mark Hanley's snowplows will clear Alna's roads again next winter, at the same cost to the town as the 2011-2012 deal.

The Alna selectmen agreed August 23 to renew the contract with Hanley for just over $160,000. The decision continues a multi-year arrangement, in which the board doesn't go out to bid as long as it remains satisfied with Hanley's work.

Selectmen did ask Hanley and the town's sand supplier, Nathan Northrup of Jefferson, to be careful not to put holes in the roof of the salt and sand shed. Board members said they weren't blaming anyone for a new hole that was found; they just want everyone using equipment in the shed to be aware that it happened, they said.

The board approved Northrup's bid of $14.95 per cubic yard of sand. It was the only bid received.

Tax rate could rise

First Selectman David Abbott will soon start preparing this year's tax commitment. The property tax rate will “probably go up a little bit,” because the school budget is up and the town's carryover funds that can help offset taxes are down, Abbott said during the selectmen's meeting.

Solid waste letter Wiscasset-bound

Selectmen signed a letter they discussed two weeks earlier, seeking changes to the next solid waste contract with Wiscasset. The letter to Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith seeks to prevent changes like last year's initiation of mandatory recycling from occurring during the contract; it also asks how the mandatory recycling has been going so far.