Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District unanimously approved spending up to $1,040,000 Jan. 14 to buy a new grinder and pay off the balance of a 20-year bond. In 2006, the district borrowed money to purchase a grinder and construct a new building. The bond still has five years remaining on the term, but the grinder in its current condition either needs extensive repairs or replacement. 

Trustees reviewed three bids for a new grinder and narrowed their choices to two. The contending bids came from Barry Equipment in Webster, Massachusetts and Nortraxx Equipment Co. in Westbrook. Barry proposed a Peterson 5710D grinder priced at $965,000 which includes a 12- month warranty and 24-month engine warranty. Nortraxx proposed a Morbark 6400 which costs $886,000 and includes a 12-month warranty and 60-month engine warranty. After the trade-in is calculated, grinder costs were lowered to $800,000 for the Peterson and $735,000 for the Morbark. District officials and employees received a personal Morbark demonstration last week. During the Jan. 14 meeting, trustees leaned toward the Morbark before deciding to seek a Peterson demonstration prior to making an official selection. “I think we should give Peterson a chance before making a decision. I wouldn’t mind having a special meeting later this month to decide which grinder to buy.” Boothbay Trustee Jody Lewis said.

District officials will receive a Peterson demonstration on Jan. 20. Lewis will confer with District Foreman William Johnson, who is the grinder primary operator, and Trustee Chairman Gary Farnham prior to deciding which one to buy.

A grinder purchase is the last piece of the 2021-22 refuse district budget. Station Manager Steve Lewis proposed a $1,924,921 budget which is a $98,431 increase. Due to a drop in district revenue, trustees are asking members Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb for $1,429,421, an 8.29% increase. Trustees discussed the $1 million-plus equipment decision for several minutes prior to selecting replacing over repairing the grinder. “It comes to a point where it costs us more for repairs instead of buying a new one. That’s what I think we should do,” said Boothbay Harbor Trustee J..D. Warren.

Trustees will finalize both the refuse district and Giles Rubbish budgets next month. 

In other action, Lewis reported Fiberight has been sold and the new owner would be announced Jan. 19. He expects the district to resume sending municipal waste to the Hampden-based plant possibly by March. “I’m not sure when we will start sending to Fiberight, but that is my best guess,” he said. Lewis also reported the new owner will assume all debts Fiberight amassed with the plant and is responsible for a $1 million loan from the Municipal Review Council. The district and over 100 other Maine communities form the MRC which seeks refuse options for the membership. “The MRC doesn’t own the plant, but it owns the land. The MRC is the landlord so this will not result in the MRC being responsible for any of the past debt. The deal calls for the new owner to assume those past debts, not the MRC,” Lewis said.

The trustees meet next at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at Giles Rubbish in Boothbay.