8 S P R I N G ISSUE MainelyAgriculture || Equi Ag &
Livestock || Aqua Agriculture 2015
The city Port Au-thority opened four bids in Januaryfor the
rebuilding of the collapsedbreakwater, that were all higherthan
available funding. Low bid-der was CMP Constructors ofFreeport at
$18.5 million followedby Cianbro Corporation at $18.66million, Reed
& Reed Inc at$22.72 million and Fundy Contrac-tors Inc at
$24.86 million. Engi-neers wanted bids to be around$13.99 million.
To mitigate thehigh bids, the Port Authority pro-poses to
temporarily drop thesheet-pile wall from the newbreakwater on the
southern dol-phin which would result in a sav-ings of $3.5 million
yet, even thataction would leave the project amillion dollars short
with somehope that present funding of CD-BG (Community
DevelopmentBlock Grant) with state and newfederal monies might make
up thedifferences. The Port AuthorityBoard agreed with refocusing
theproject in order to move it forwardon a time line that would
havework start in April, 2015 with acontract that calls for
completionby May 15, 2017. Port AuthorityDirector Chris Gardner
expressedthis interim fix (sheet-pile wall)might allow for new
additionalfunding effort to complete thesame as engineers desire.
TheMaine Department of Transporta-tion, required to make a review
ofall bids before recommending a
formal awarding to low bidder,CPM Constructors will work
withPort Authority to petition federalauthorities to find more
funding.The reconstruction engineeringprocess for this project had
alreadybeen started before the collapseDecember 4, which explains
howtimely the bids were to come in atthis time and establish
further needfor expanding dollars by the press-ing emergency nature
of the recon-struction, here.
Meanwhile, fishermen are day-by-day with wind and weather,moving
boats in and out in orderto fish the limited scallop and urc-
hin days open to them. Some aretied to the fish pier by an
attenuatorfloat with others on moorings atBroad Cove or have moved
to theEdmunds boat ramp to allow pull-ing boats when parking on
landdictates from weather or availablemooring is a concern.
Regardingberthing at the finger piers of thebreakwater area,
insurance provi-sions are requiring hold harm-less clauses for
boats over orunder 50 while the planned con-struction of a new
float system atBroad Cove will not happen untilspring and fishermen
have re-sponded as needed with their in-surers.
The workof a grant of $49,000 awarded in2013 by USDA has been
recog-nized nationally by the US Depart-ment of Agriculture for
CozyAcres Greenhouses full conver-sion to renewable energy
sourceswith an additional state match of$25,000 from Maines
Futureprogram. Jeff and MarianneMarstaller have the only
green-house operation in the northernstates that uses geothermal
and so-lar energy for power and were not-ed by Secretary of
AgricultureTom Vilsack for this distinctionand their zero carbon
footprint, forfamily agribusiness farming with aFebruary 11
national conferencecall. While the overall costs for
unconventional heating take a fewyears to fully pay for, it has
already
and gen-erates more power than it consumeswhich is credited back
into the gridtowards future invoice on the CentralMaine Power
metering system.Within the Vilsack news announce-ment, came a
notation that Congresshas changed the granting process,and informs
farmers there are nomore deadlines for entering suchgrants under
the new farm bill and allis open to farms, ranches and
ruralbusinesses seeking to install renew-able energy projects to
make energyefficiency improvements. For moreinformation about such
grants con-tact USDAs office at 207-900-9161or
[email protected].
Breakwater rebuild costs to be higherthan available money to
construct
www.lanescollisioncenter.com like us on facebook186 Exeter Road
Rt 43
Kevin Lane - Owner Open Mon,-Fri. 8-5, Sat. 8-12
Complete Auto Body & Collision Repairs
Over 18 Years ExperienceNow offering: Light Auto Repair - Tires
- Oil Changes & More
All Insurance Companies Honored
Spray on Bedliners
Lanes Collision CenterEvery day our make-overs roll out the
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Jeff Marstaller photo
WATERVILLE - Central MaineTeam Penning Association (CMP-TA) held
their annual Awards ban-quet January 17 following a buffetand
member meeting led by CMP-TA President Scott Labbe. Afterthe
awards, entertainment anddancing rounded off festivities:
Team Penning AwardsThose recognized were:
1. Nikki Reynolds 2.Heather Labbe 3. Diane Reynolds;
1. MeganWellman 2. Jen McCarthy 3. BillEdward; 1.Pam Edwards 2.
Bruce Staples 3.Katie Smith;1. Michelle Meserve 2. Scott Labbe3
Kyle Smith;1. Beth Lambert 2. Brett Smith 3.Scott Taylor;1. Mike
Porter 2. Kimball Johnston3. Morgan Lambert;
Ranch Sorting WinnersFF 1. HeatherLabbe 2. Kylee Austin 3. Nikki
Reyn-olds; 1. Jen Mc-Carthy 2. Holly Lanpher 3. BillEdwards; 1.
PamEdwards 2. Katie Smith 3. CharlieEdgar; 1. KyleSmith 2. Scott
Labbe 3. MichelleMeserve; 1.Beth Lambert 2. Vaughn Melanson;
1. MorganLambert 2. Scott Baxter; Baxter;
R Rookie Award: Baxter;Diane Reynolds Baxter SpggSportsmanship:
AKyle Smith
Team Penners AwardsCentral Maine
7
7
Before:
After:
Kevin
Andy
Bruce
mailto:[email protected]
