Nonprofit group asks Caribou Utilities District to waive prior lien on 30 North Street; board asks staff to study options

Troy Annie, chair of the Caribou Business Investment Group, asked the Caribou Utilities District on May 14 to waive a prior CUD utility bill attached to a tax-acquired property at 30 North Street so the group's tiny-home renovation can be sold.

The request matters because the Business Investment Group said a lien on the property will make it difficult for a buyer or lender to close. "The reason we're here tonight is, we have a project on 30 North Street...we're asking the CUD to waive the previous owner's bill," Annie said. The group told the board it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of volunteers and outside tradespeople who have invested time and materials in renovating the lot and placing a tiny home there for resale.

Board members discussed legal limits on forgiving liens. One board member noted that waiving utility liens would conflict with the district charter and likely require legislative action: "...we would have to change the charter and, you know, through the legislature to, you know, to waive liens on property for utility." Board members also raised concerns about setting a precedent if the district began routinely forgiving liens.

The Business Investment Group said the property was put up for sale in December or January at $96,500 and that the CUD lien was the only utility lien the group was aware of, though the group later learned total liens on the parcel were around $1,600. Annie said the tiny home was purchased from Northern Maine Community College, that the building is connected to water and sewer but not yet activated for service, and that the group expects to repay contractors from proceeds of a sale.

Rather than immediately waiving the lien, the board moved to have staff investigate alternatives to forgiving the lien and to report back quickly if there was a pending sale. A board member moved the action and another seconded it; the board called for a vote and directed staff to return with options at the next meeting or at a special meeting if a sale was imminent. The transcript records the motion, a second and a call for those in favor but does not record a roll-call tally.

The board and the group identified two follow-up steps: the Business Investment Group should stay in contact with staff member John so the district can respond promptly if a buyer is pending, and staff will research legal and administrative options (including whether the district can treat the account as bad debt or pursue other administrative remedies) without changing the charter.

The discussion closed with the board asking staff to present findings at the next regular meeting or at a special meeting within about 30 days if needed. No formal waiver was approved at the May 14 meeting.