By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The town manager announced that he will move forward with submitting grant requests to build bathrooms at the Casco Community Park, and to purchase a 14-passenger van for the seniors’ programs.

In December, Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward touched upon the fact that the grant deadline was approaching and he was following through with plans to submit the required paperwork.

“As previously discussed at the last board meeting, I will be submitting two grant applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program,” he said. 

“The pre-applications are due” this Friday, Ward said. “In Speaking with Cumberland County, they believe both projects are viable projects. Their recommendation is if we have the interest, submit both. If they approve both, great. They might come back and say, ‘Which one is a priority for us?’”

“I am already looking at some options for matching funds, funds that would be needed from the town if we get the grant(s),” he said.

On Dec. 6, Ward updated the Casco Board of Selectmen on the CDBG process, saying he was adhering to the deadline. The board could discuss matching fund sources — if the town’s grant request is approved, he said.  

During the Nov. 15 meeting, Ward went into more detail about how CDB grants could be used. Also, on that date, the board voted to support moving forward with the application process, and to be willing to use matching funds should the grants be awarded.  

“We have used it in the past to build the playground up at community park. We haven’t taken advantage of it as much as we potentially could have,” Ward said. 

“I met with some of the staff and had a dialogue about which areas of the community would qualify for this grant and about potential projects,” he said. 

“Again, before doing the grant application, I obviously want the select board’s support. I don’t want to waste staff’s time, your time or the review committee’s time,” Ward said.

The two possible projects are: purchasing a large van and building a bathroom facility.  

One of the grant applicationsis for “the purchase of 15-person bus for the seniors’ program. This would be an opportunity if we want to apply for senior-based grant. If you look at 14-passenger vans right now like everything else, inflation is hitting hard. What used to be $60,000 right now at minimum is now $115,000. A wider, more traditional coach-style seating, you are looking in range of $125,000. If you are looking at one that is ADA-compliant with wheelchair lift, it’ll cost about $135,000,” he said. 

Owning a small bus would give the town the ability “to pick up seniors who have transportation issues,” Ward said. 

“The other grant project is to actually build restrooms at the community park. Right now, we have one that is for concession stand and Porta-Potties,” he said.

“It would require a redesign of our septic system. We have to check our water capacity there,” he said. “We have someone internal who can help with septic design. Then, it would come down to getting prices associated with that project.” 

There would be a financial commitment tied to getting the grant approved, and that commitment could be anywhere between $15,000 and $150,000 or more, Ward said.

He mentioned these were matching funds. 

He said the board could consider using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds or it could plan the town’s share of the bus cost into the upcoming 2023-24 budget.  

The selectmen expressed enthusiastic interest in these projects. 

“The van would be a great asset to the seniors’ program,” Selectman Scott Avery said.