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Maintenance fees The Rail Trail is done, but there's still a matter of keeping it going
BY KEITH EDWARDS
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/12/2008

BY KEITH EDWARDS

Staff Writer

Now that the Kennebec River Rail Trail is built alongside the river from Augusta to Gardiner, someone has to pay to maintain it.

And that "someone" could very well be the taxpayers of the four municipalities the trail passes through -- Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner.

The Kennebec River Rail Trail Board of Supervisors recently asked the four municipalities to each budget $7,250 to help pay to keep the hiking and biking trail plowed and maintained.

At stake is the future of a trail officials say provides recreation for local residents and brings visitors -- and their money -- to towns the trail visits.

"Obviously, if we don't take care of this facility, it will deteriorate," said Jeff Miller, of Augusta, chairman of the nonprofit Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail and executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. "And all these hours and millions of dollars invested in it would be lost.

"I remain optimistic we're going to be able to figure this out. The impression I have is there is very strong support in all four communities for this trail."

The cost of building the entire length of the 6 1/2-mile trail was about $4.5 million, according to officials. The money came from a mix of federal and state sources, local fundraising, and in-kind services donated by the four municipalities.

The final phase of construction was completed last year, some 15 years after planning started and 18 years after the rail line was purchased by the state.

Municipal officials reached Tuesday said they would, or already had, put the $7,250 requested of each in their budget proposals.

But that doesn't mean the sum will reach their final budgets.

Budgets in each municipality still have to be approved by a vote.

In Augusta, Gardiner and Hallowell, that would be a city council vote. In Farmingdale, the budget request will have to win the favor of voters at the annual town meeting, March 29.

"Personally, I think it's going to come as a big surprise to a lot of people," said Eugene Proulx, chairman of the Farmingdale selectmen. "I think it's going to be a hot issue. We're in for a tax increase, which is hard, especially for something like this that all the people don't use. Especially when people are struggling just to buy oil to heat their homes."

That doesn't mean Proulx believes the trail has been a bad thing. He said it has been well-received and good for the town. He just wasn't expecting the town to have to pay to help maintain it.

The request was submitted in time to be on the warrant and Farmingdale voters will decide the issue at town meeting.

Augusta City Manager William Bridgeo said in a memo to city councilors and the mayor he would do as the three other communities were doing and put some money in his proposed budget should councilors decide to financially support the trail.

"I think it's safe to say that representatives of all of the communities generally support the idea of working with the not-for-profit organizations to ensure that this gem of a shared amenity is well-maintained," Bridgeo said. "However, we are all cautious about making open-ended commitments."

Hallowell City Manager David Giroux could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Gardiner City Manager Jeff Kobrock said he'll include the $7,250 in the proposed budget. But he isn't ready to commit the city to annual funding for trail maintenance.

"It's precedent-setting. It's the first maintenance budget," Kobrock said. "I think it's just a matter of, this is the first time around and it is four very diverse communities. And we need to make sure everyone understands the same set of rules."

Maintenance work would include snow plowing, grass mowing, minor repairs and other work to prevent the trail from deteriorating and keeping it easily accessible to users.

The Friends of the Kennebec Rail Trail, active in fundraising and caring for the trail throughout its construction, also will continue to contribute to the maintenance of the trail.

This winter, volunteers including Steve Naas and Kevin Moriarty plowed both ends of the trail, while the middle section has remained unplowed, Miller said.

He said it would be unfair to expect volunteers to maintain the entire trail.

"We've been very dependent on volunteers giving their time, gas, and equipment to maintain the trail," Miller said. "But it's too big for any one person to do on a volunteer basis."

So Naas put together a proposed budget that could cover maintenance for the year. That budget was the basis for the $7,250 share for each municipality.

The original interlocal agreement municipalities made before the trail was developed, Kobrock and Miller said, specified the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail should put together a budget to maintain the trail and present it to the municipalities.

Miller noted the trail has been popular even in the winter and provides recreational and financial opportunities to all four municipalities, as residents and visitors use the trail and then have lunch or shop within the four municipalities.

"In this snowy winter, it has been a real refuge for people to get out," Miller said. "That $7,250 will hopefully be an easy line item to check off on the budget.

"We realize it's not an easy time for a municipality to take on something even that modest. But the payoff is much, much greater."

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

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