March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Study: Water source site has little of value> Pittsfield had hoped land’s as offset purchase price

PITTSFIELD — The town has received an assessment of a piece of property that could be the site of Pittsfield’s water source stating that the property is virtually worthless.

The assessment was vital in ascertaining a fair purchase price for the land, said Town Manager D. Dwight Dogherty.

Two years ago, Pittsfield’s main well level was 18 feet below ground level and the pumps were sucking air, triggering a water crisis. Conservation methods were put in place and the search for a new water source began, pushed by a Maine Department of Human Services order.

The search identified several possible sites. Dogherty said the most favored is a 78-acre parcel across the Peltoma River from Pittsfield, partially in Detroit but mostly in Burnham.

The sand aquifer has been tested and appears to contain more than enough water to serve the entire town, said Dogherty. However, the town needs only 10 acres of the parcel, while the landowners want to sell it all as one unit.

Dragon Cement owns the land, a former gravel pit that has been worked extensively. The asking price of $250,000 was more than twice what the Farmers Home Administration was willing to provide for a purchase.

Dogherty ordered the land assessment to determine if the land had assets that could be sold or used by the town to offset the purchase price. There was even a suggestion that the land ultimately could be developed as a town recreation park.

The assessment, conducted by S.W. Cole, included 30 test pits. The report indicated that the land’s resources have been depleted. Left behind, said the report, was 14,770 cubic yards of gravel, 5,560 cubic yards of sand and 55,560 cubic yards of a sand-silt-gravel mix. Combined, these properties have a value of less than $5,000.

Dogherty said both Pittsfield and Dragon will use the new information to obtain independent appraisals.

“We will use this report,” Dogherty said. “We are now in a little better position since we know there is no value in the land, other than a water site.”

The report also answered a question on reclamation. Since the land was a gravel pit, Dogherty was concerned about liability for reclamation of the pit. But the report indicated the land was reforested. “It has been pretty well revegetated,” he said.

The study cost $3,500.

If a purchase price can be agreed upon and a sale appears imminent, Dogherty said, an 8-inch test well must be dug and pumped for seven days before further testing, which would show if the well has a high manganese or iron content. The test well and testing would cost about $35,000.

“At this time,” said Dogherty, “I don’t want to do this until we know what the acquisition price is on a more firm basis. I have no problem if we have an appraisal done and are able to reach a per-acre cost (with the owner).”

The gravel aquifer on the proposed property would be recharged by the river and surrounding bogs and ground water, said Dogherty.


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