VOTE "YES" ON WARRANT ARTICLE 17 ON THE BALLOT ON JUNE 8 AND ACQUIRE LAND FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS
ARTICLE 17. OPEN SPACE PURCHASE: Shall the Town vote to appropriate up to $450,000 from the CIP Land Bank Reserve – Open Space account to purchase available parcels of land requested by the Town's Conservation Commission and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to take the necessary steps to make such purchases, including executing documents and obtaining appraisals, surveys and title work? Land parcels will be purchased only following a public hearing identifying the parcel(s) to be purchased.
A "Yes" vote on Warrant Article 17 will allow the Town to consider spending $450,000 in order to purchase two land parcels for traditional outdoor recreation, homes for animals, and nature education. The funds come not from current taxation, but from the Town's Land Bank that has accrued $650,000 over the last thirteen years, including $72,000 raised by the Conservation Commission from donations. The two parcels are 1) the 130-acre old homestead of Donny and Eleanor Tilton west of the Sanford Road and south of the Bragdon Road; and the 288-acre Granite State Land on the west side of Perry Oliver Road.
Acquiring the "Tilton" property will protect and provide public access to over 6000 ft of the Merriland River as well as the Great Haith, a massive peat bog filled with wildlife. Acquiring the "Granite State" property will protect one of the last known populations of the New England Cottontail Rabbit, and provide varied recreation for residents of western Wells.
Please vote "YES" on article #17 on the ballot on June 8 and continue the proud Wells tradition of providing public land for people and animals.
A pool on the Tilton Property
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What does "Article 17: Open Space Purchase" do?
Article 17 enables the town to spend money from its Land Bank to purchase two large parcels of undeveloped land that the Conservation Commission has been waiting to come on the market.
2. When's the vote?
Election day is Tuesday, June 8. You can vote prior to June 8 at the Town Hall any week-day Monday through Friday from 8am - 5pm, or you can call the Town Clerk at 646-2882 to request an Absentee Ballot be mailed to you. An Absentee Ballot can be requested electronically by going to to the Absentee Ballot page on the State of Maine's website.
3. Where are the two parcels and how big are they?
One parcel is the old homestead of Donny and Eleanor Tilton, 130 acres west of the Sanford Road and south of the Bragdon Road. The second parcel is the "Granite State" land, 288 acres on the west side of Perry Oliver Road.
4. What's so special about these properties?
Acquiring the "Tilton" property will protect and provide public access to over 6000 ft of the Merriland River (a Class 1 Trout fishery for native Brook Trout) as well as to the Great Haith, a massive peat bog filled with deer and moose and insect-eating plants. Acquiring the" Granite State" property will protect one of the last known populations of the New England Cottontail Rabbit in the northeast states, as well as provide public lands that residents of western Wells can walk or bike to. These will be public properties with no "No Trespassing" signs.
5. What will these properties be used for?
These lands will be used by Wells residents for traditional outdoor recreation, to provide home for animals, and as a place where children and adults can learn about nature.
6. Will a "Yes" vote raise this year's taxes?
No. A "Yes" vote authorizes the Town to transfer money from a current fund called the Land Bank.
7. What is the Land Bank?
The Land Bank is a Town capital fund that has received money for the last thirteen years by votes of the Town Meeting.
8. How much money is now in the Land Bank?
The Land Bank currently holds more than $650,000. This sum includes money from grants written by the Conservation Commission ($30,000) and from a private donations raised by the Commission ($72,000).
9. Will all the purchase price come from the Town's Land Bank?
Money for purchase will come from the Land Bank and from fundraising by the Great Works Regional Land Trust. The Conservation Commission has submitted a grant proposal for $287,000 and plans to submit other grants proposals.
10. How much do the parcels cost?
The actual prices will need to be negotiated with willing sellers. Any purchase deals will be aired at a public hearing where townspeople can testify. After that, the Board of Selectmen will have to approve the purchase. The vote in the current election allows this process to move forward.
11. Why should we do this now?
These are some of the last large, roadless parcels in Town of Wells that can be conserved. Wells is blessed with beautiful, wild lands and an abundance of wildlife ranging from the birds at your feeder to the turkeys that range through your neighborhood to the moose and deer and owls that you see around town. These animals have a home now, but as the Town grows with more houses and stores, the animals will have no space to live, and townspeople will have fewer and fewer places to go for a walk in the woods without trespassing. Prices are relatively low now, and are likely in the future to increase past the point that the Town can afford to buy them. The Town's Budget Committee voted unanimously 5-0 in favor of Article 17.