8 SPRING ISSUE MainelyAgriculture || Equi Ag & Livestock || Aqua Agriculture 2015 The city Port Au- thority opened four bids in January for the rebuilding of the collapsed breakwater, that were all higher than available funding. Low bid- der was CMP Constructors of Freeport at $18.5 million followed by Cianbro Corporation at $18.66 million, Reed & Reed Inc at $22.72 million and Fundy Contrac- tors Inc at $24.86 million. Engi- neers wanted bids to be around $13.99 million. To mitigate the high bids, the Port Authority pro- poses to temporarily drop the sheet-pile wall from the new breakwater on the southern dol- phin which would result in a sav- ings of $3.5 million yet, even that action would leave the project a million dollars short with some hope that present funding of CD- BG (Community Development Block Grant) with state and new federal monies might make up the differences. The Port Authority Board agreed with refocusing the project in order to move it forward on a time line that would have work start in April, 2015 with a contract that calls for completion by May 15, 2017. Port Authority Director Chris Gardner expressed this interim fix (sheet-pile wall) might allow for new additional funding effort to complete the same as engineers desire. The Maine Department of Transporta- tion, required to make a review of all bids before recommending a formal awarding to low bidder, CPM Constructors will work with Port Authority to petition federal authorities to find more funding. The reconstruction engineering process for this project had already been started before the collapse December 4, which explains how timely the bids were to come in at this time and establish further need for expanding dollars by the press- ing emergency nature of the recon- struction, here. Meanwhile, fishermen are day- by-day with wind and weather, moving boats in and out in order to fish the limited scallop and urc- hin days open to them. Some are tied to the fish pier by an attenuator float with others on moorings at Broad Cove or have moved to the Edmunds boat ramp to allow pull- ing boats when parking on land dictates from weather or available mooring is a concern. Regarding berthing at the finger piers of the breakwater area, insurance provi- sions are requiring “hold harm- less” clauses for boats over or under 50’ while the planned con- struction of a new float system at Broad Cove will not happen until spring and fishermen have re- sponded as needed with their in- surers. The work of a grant of $49,000 awarded in 2013 by USDA has been recog- nized nationally by the US Depart- ment of Agriculture for Cozy Acres Greenhouse’s full conver- sion to renewable energy sources with an additional state match of $25,000 from Maine’s Future program. Jeff and Marianne Marstaller have the only green- house operation in the northern states that uses geothermal and so- lar energy for power and were not- ed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for this distinction and their zero carbon footprint, for family agribusiness farming with a February 11 national conference call. While the overall costs for unconventional heating take a few years to fully pay for, it has already and gen- erates more power than it consumes which is credited back into the grid towards future invoice on the Central Maine Power metering system. Within the Vilsack news announce- ment, came a notation that Congress has changed the granting process, and informs farmers there are no more deadlines for entering such grants under the new farm bill and all is open to farms, ranches and rural businesses seeking to install renew- able energy projects to make energy efficiency improvements. For more information about such grants con- tact USDA’s office at 207-900-9161 or [email protected]. Breakwater rebuild costs to be higher than available money to construct www.lanescollisioncenter.com “like us on facebook” 186 Exeter Road Rt 43 Kevin Lane - Owner Open Mon,-Fri. 8-5, Sat. 8-12 Complete Auto Body & Collision Repairs Over 18 Years Experience Now offering: Light Auto Repair - Tires - Oil Changes & More All Insurance Companies Honored Spray on Bedliners Lane’s Collision Center Every day our make-overs roll out the original value of your transport need: Jeff Marstaller photo WATERVILLE - Central Maine Team Penning Association (CMP- TA) held their annual Awards ban- quet January 17 following a buffet and member meeting led by CMP- TA President Scott Labbe. After the awards, entertainment and dancing rounded off festivities: Team Penning Awards Those recognized were: 1. Nikki Reynolds 2. Heather Labbe 3. Diane Reynolds; 1. Megan Wellman 2. Jen McCarthy 3. Bill Edward; 1. Pam Edwards 2. Bruce Staples 3. Katie Smith; 1. Michelle Meserve 2. Scott Labbe 3 Kyle Smith; 1. Beth Lambert 2. Brett Smith 3. Scott Taylor; 1. Mike Porter 2. Kimball Johnston 3. Morgan Lambert; Ranch Sorting Winners FF 1. Heather Labbe 2. Kylee Austin 3. Nikki Reyn- olds; 1. Jen Mc- Carthy 2. Holly Lanpher 3. Bill Edwards; 1. Pam Edwards 2. Katie Smith 3. Charlie Edgar; 1. Kyle Smith 2. Scott Labbe 3. Michelle Meserve; 1. Beth Lambert 2. Vaughn Melanson; 1. Morgan Lambert 2. Scott Baxter; Baxter; R Rookie Award: Baxter; Diane Reynolds Baxter S pgg Sportsmanship: A Kyle Smith Team Penners’ Awards Central Maine 7 7 Before: After: Kevin Andy Bruce