The Alna Facilities Planning Committee was formed in May 2007 as a follow-up to the previous Fred Bowers' committee to assess the overall Town administrative and firehouse building needs. The objects were to assess each town building and make recommendations for upgrades that were in the best interest of the town citizens for the future over the next twenty five years.

The committee has met twice a month and since last fall has met on a weekly basis. We have had each building inspected by a licensed home inspector, visited other towns to review their experience, been in communication with the Maine Municipal Association and reviewed code requirements for each building.

The committee started with several building options and has narrowed the selection down to two options. One major challenge was for the committee needs implied by code requirements from features that would be "nice to have." Only Code issues were used for our final decision. Early after the summer 2007 town meeting we invited three additional nonvoting fire department officers to assist us in identifying the real needs. Our final recommendations were objectively based on code needs, impact on the town tax burden and what is in the best interest for the Alna citizens.

We recommend and endorse the construction of an independent fire house with an attached meeting room and combined fire training area at a cost of $766,000. This building would be located on the land behind the present Alna town office building. In the event that this is not favorable with the town vote in March 2008 we present an alternative selection, to construct an addition and make renovations to the current fire house at a cost of $466,000.

I am very pleased with the committee's work ethic and the objective manner in which the committee has interfaced with the fire department, town staff, inspectors and state of Maine to reach our recommendations that is in the best interest of the town. The committee members wish to express our appreciation to Les Fossel for offering a quotation for a fire house addition at a very generous discount.

Each option will meet the building needs of the town for the next 25 years. Ideally the independent fire house, that the committee recommends and endorses is the best fit to meet the town needs. It has two distinct advantages over the renovation: one, it would have lower maintenance cost; and two, it would allow for future expansion if the need arises 25-plus years from now. The option to build an addition onto the firehouse would provide citizens with an alternative choice at a lower cost; however this is not the committee's choice, based on long term operational cost and future needs in 25 years.

I ask the town citizens to take into consideration our recommendations and provide a positive vote for action that will serve the town needs and interest over the next 25 years. Now is an opportune time to build or expand with lower interest rates and the building trades in need of work that can result in lower construction cost and minimize the tax impact of Alna citizens.

There will be a follow up informational meeting presented by the committee on Thursday, March 27, prior to the Saturday Town meeting.

Committee members include Nick Caristo and John Green, co-chairmen of the committee; and members, Thomas Albee, Gordon Davis, Fred Gumkowski, Brian Lawrence, Kathy Pendleton, and Cliff Russell; in addition to thanking the committee members, we would like to thank Fire Department Officers, Michael Trask, Roger Whitney, and Paul Ouelette.