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Rangeley nonprofits present funding requests ahead of town meeting
Summary
A series of local nonprofits asked the selectmen for appropriations: requests included trail maintenance, water-quality work, library operating support, radio station equipment and social services providers; the requests are petitioned and the board made no formal recommendation.
A broad slate of Rangeley-area nonprofit organizations presented funding requests to the Board of Selectmen on March 11, asking the town to include petitioned appropriations on the annual warrant.
The organizations sought municipal support for operations and capital needs ranging from trail grooming and water-quality monitoring to library operations and emergency communications equipment. Selectmen did not make formal recommendations on the petitions; presenters asked that their requests be included on the warrant so voters can decide.
Why it matters: These petitioned appropriations represent a mix of ongoing operational support and one-time capital needs for organizations that provide recreation, safety and social services to Year-round and seasonal residents. Voter approval is required for the petitioned sums.
Presenters summarized their programs and the amounts requested. “We manage a regional hub of non-motorized trails based at Saddleback Mountain” and seek $10,000 for continued maintenance and operations, said a presenter identified in the record as the Cross‑country ski club president. The Ridgely Lakes Heritage Trust asked for $14,000 to sustain a water-quality program that includes courtesy boat inspections and long-term sampling. Don Lewis, trailmaster for the Rangeley Lake Snowmobile Club, requested $50,000 for trail maintenance and grooming; he said the club maintains about 170 miles of trail and that grooming costs about $1,500 per night.
Other requests included: - Rangeley Chamber of Commerce (presenter: Ally Kaiser) — funding for visitor-center operations and destination marketing; an additional ask to support community events such as a fishing festival and July 3 park events. - Rangeley Public Library (presenter: Barb) — the library requested $47,755 from Rangeley (a 3% increase over last year) and reported municipal support represents just under 40% of its operating budget; the library said it also receives support from adjacent plantations and towns. - WRGY community radio (presenter: Iris Ramirez, station manager) — $7,000 to replace an emergency-alert receiver and install a backup antenna and to continue expanded local programming; the station manager said WRGY now produces seven locally produced shows. - LifeFlight Foundation (presenter: Ashley McMillan, director of annual giving) — $2,000; LifeFlight described itself as Maine’s only air medical and critical-care transport provider and said it served Rangeley residents in the past year. - Safe Voices (presenter: Trish Popovich, development and operations) — $1,000 to continue domestic-violence and trafficking services in Rangeley and surrounding counties.
Presenters emphasized that these are petitioned requests; a member of the public asked why all requests were listed as “no recommendation,” and staff explained petitioned items are brought forward by citizens or organizations for voter consideration rather than as formal board proposals. Chamber and other presenters also noted that other one-time grants the organizations received recently did not fully replace annual operating appropriations and that municipal funding would help sustain services.
Selectmen did not vote on the petitions at the meeting; staff will place the petitioned requests on the warrant for voter consideration if petition requirements are met.
