From the desk of Anne Davis, Interim City Manager
Many municipalities are finding it difficult to fund “added value” projects in this dismal economy. This is certainly not the case in Gardiner. Once again, we look at the needs and find a way to solve them. This week, two very different projects have become a reality.
Gardiner has found a way to build an important public/private project with Gardiner Savings Bank of Maine. This week, Gardiner City Council authorized us to sign a license agreement with Savings Bank of Maine that will kick off a long anticipated project…the expansion and beautification of Gardiner’s waterfront. With this service agreement, Savings Bank of Maine will begin to improve our gateway to the waterfront. Depot Square will soon see new sidewalks down to the waterfront. This unique agreement allows the bank to hire a designer and contractor to get the work done. Once this phase is completed, the ownership goes back to the City of Gardiner and our residents can anticipate more improvements during the year. So much work has gone into this agreement and now it is time for us to extend a huge “thank-you” to the following organizations and individuals for attending weekly meetings over the winter to make this a reality:
Gardiner Savings Bank of Maine and its employees
Gates, Leighton Associates
Planning and Development Director, Jason Simcock
Kent Associates
All the dedicated residents on the committee
Congratulations should also be extended to the staff at the Gardiner Public Library. This week, we received notification that our Maine Reads grant application is funded. Maine Reads mission is “to view Maine as a state of life-long learners where every child, every adult, every family, and every community member is strengthened through libraries and literacy programs that encourage reading, where there is a renewed sense of community, enhanced growth, and improved quality of life.” The library will partner with MSAD#11, the SKCDC Gardiner Head Start and Child Care Center, Gardiner Elementary PTA, the Maine Parent Federation and the volunteer supporters of the library who met over the winter to create this new program. Our greater Gardiner community will benefit tremendously because of these two initiatives.
