Caribou Utilities District approves financial reports, pledges 20% match for $5.5M wastewater project pending federal award

Caribou Utilities District board members approved the district's financial reports and voted to commit 20% matching funds for a critical wastewater infrastructure upgrade contingent on receiving a congressional directed spending award during their April 16 meeting.

The approval of the financial reports followed a staff presentation that said some 2024 transactions remain in the current-year budget until final adjustments are completed; staff also said a spreadsheet error left roughly a $5 discrepancy on each side of one calculation and that journal entries will be used to shift a few items back to 2024. The presenter said asset reserves exist that could be used if needed but did not recommend any immediate reallocations.

Board members heard multiple operations updates from John (role not specified). He reported that office computers were updated to a supported Microsoft operating system, an older service truck received body and paint repairs and should remain in service longer, an office vehicle was purchased slightly over budget but covered by other capital savings, and the district intends to try to sell an older Yukon vehicle if an acceptable price is found. John said crews continue to repair water leaks and that the district fixed additional leaks since the management report was circulated.

On grants and capital projects, the board was told that funds for a vacuum truck have been received and are being held in a 0% interest account; the truck is expected in late summer. The district plans to work with RCAP Solutions to run a household income survey intended to produce a more favorable poverty estimate for future grant scoring; staff said RCAP will cover an unspecified portion of the survey costs (staff noted mailings would be the district's expense) and that much of the work entails door‑to‑door follow up where mail responses do not come back.

A water system study to map pressure zones and evaluate the district's capacity to interconnect with LDA was awarded to Deer Go; staff said the study should be complete by November. The presenter said the interconnection discussion currently pertains only to water capacity, not sewage.

On wastewater, the district reapplied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program after a prior application was affected by a continuing resolution, and staff said they are in the final stages of applying to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for funding related to the project's match requirement. Staff described the overall project cost as about $5,500,000 and said a 20% local match would be required if awarded; participants discussed that a match on the order of $800,000–$900,000 is likely and that the district has good prospects for borrowing if needed.

During discussion the following formal actions were recorded:

- A motion to accept the financial reports was made and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion passed. (Mover: Speaker 2; Second: Speaker 1; outcome: approved.)

- A motion that "the CUD commit 20% matching funds for the critical infrastructure upgrade project contingent upon the award of a congressional directed spending grant" was made, seconded, and approved. The motion states the matching funds will be available and unencumbered to ensure prompt use if the federal award is made. (Mover: Speaker 2; Second: not specified on the record; outcome: approved.)

- A motion to enter executive session under state statute cited in the meeting (1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(A)) to discuss personnel matters was made and approved; the public portion of the meeting paused for the executive session. (Mover: Speaker 2; outcome: approved.)

Board members also reviewed follow-up questions from an office in Susan Connell's office about confirming board support for the wastewater project and assurance that the district would secure the required match by grant or loan if awarded.

The meeting record indicates the board moved promptly into executive session on a personnel matter after those votes; no outcome of that closed session is recorded in the public transcript provided.

Ending

The board paused the public meeting to go into executive session on personnel under the cited state statute after completing the public votes and updates; no further public actions or decisions were recorded in the provided transcript.