BATH

Bath council members adopted a budget Wednesday night that reflects an expenditure of $15.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

When combined with the RSU 1 and county budgets, a total of $19.6 million will be paid for in property taxes in the 2015-16 fiscal year. According to the budget, the municipal local share will be $8.3 million, $9.6 million in taxes will be paid for Bath’s local share in RSU 1 and the local share for the county is $1.69 million.

Under the proposed budget, Bath’s current tax rate of $20.20 per $1,000 of assessed value would increase by $0.95, to $21.15, an increase of 4.7 percent. The owner of a property assessed at $200,000 would pay $4,230 in total; that’s an increase of $190.

In other action, the council honored Bath Police Sgt. David Beauregard and presented him with a proclamation and a city chair for his 25 years of service, in light of his recent retirement.

He was supported by family, friends and colleagues as he received his recognition from city council chairwoman Mari Eosco.

Beauregard was Bath’s first drug detective, a position he took on in 2002 before being promoted to sergeant and detective in 2013.

At the meeting, city councilors also authorized the endorsement of the annual Bath Heritage Days celebration, one of the biggest community events organized by Main Street Bath every year.

Gayle Hunt, president of the organization, presented a list of events to the council, as the celebration is slated for the weekend of July 2-5.

Hunt also disclosed that the organization will welcome Jacob Korb, who has recently been hired as Main Street Bath’s new program director. Eosco has been serving as the organization’s interim director since Carolyn Lockwood resigned from the position in early April.

According to Hunt, Korb who is from out-of-state, would be moving to Bath shortly to take over the position in mid-June, just in time to “get his feet wet” for Bath Heritage Days.

The council also approved a bid and contract agreement with Crooker Construction LLC to redesign and reconstruct portions of North Street in Bath this summer, following design studies that were conducted by Wright-Pierce Engineering. According to the project website, some of the goals include improving the roadway surface of North Street, narrowing the street, providing safe pedestrian areas and adding landscape and improved lighting.

Reconstruction will begin with almost 2,000 feet of roadway between the corners of the Lincoln, Oak Grove and Congress intersection and High Street.

The Bath Water District will also be involved to upgrade the water main and service lines on North Street.

The project could start as early as June 15, according to Peter Owen, Bath Public Works director.

More details of the project will be provided at a pre-construction public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, in the basement conference room of city hall. Residents are also encouraged to find out more at cityofbath.com/northstreet.

At the meeting’s conclusion, councilman Kyle Rogers announced that he would be resigning from his position on the council as he and his family prepare to move to England.

“I wish you all the best,” he said as he addressed the council. “I’d like to thank the citizens for the nine years or so of being considerate constituents, and I hope I’ve served you well.”

dkim@timesrecord.com

UNDER THE proposed budget, Bath’s current tax rate of $20.20 per $1,000 of assessed value would increase by $0.95, to $21.15, an increase of 4.7 percent. The owner of a property assessed at $200,000 would pay $4,230 in total; that’s an increase of $190.

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