KINGFIELD -– Selectmen met last Monday, Dec. 7 and the first order of business were discussions concerning a bridge design intended to cross the Carrabassett River at town-owned land formally known as Gilmore Hill.

Per Selectman Merv Wilson’s request earlier in the year, engineering students from the University of Maine Orono campus are conducting a senior capstone project to design a multi purpose recreational bridge at no cost to the town.

After some discussion, it was decided that the students will come back and talk to those interested. Once designed, interested clubs and/or groups will pursue grant money to cover construction costs.

Some representatives from the Kingfield Revitalization Committee were present that evening. The issue was a proposal to see if the selectmen and townsfolk supported a plan to revitalize the riverfront section of the downtown area. The area discussed stretches from behind Longfellow’s Restaurant to Kingfield Video Network. Revitalization members wanted to see the development of a very small 16-foot by 16- foot reproduction of the original grist mill and a park-like setting to be designed and built behind Longfellow’s. Also, they want some paving done behind the buildings with added parking lots and spaces.

“Their hopes were to put this question before the voters for the annual town meeting,” Administrative Assistant Doug Marble said.

Selectmen agreed with the request and instructed the committee to further develop the proposal for an article for the Town Warrant.

Parking lot development was discussed near the Poland Spring wastewater beds on Gilmore field. The Department of Environmental Protection originally requested a parking lot near the beds for future site inspections.

Wilson said that their intent was to build the lot as requested, but make it large enough to accommodate recreation needs for the two town-owned lots in the vicinity.

A representative from the local ATV club said the club would donate $500 toward the project since the trail crosses nearby and the parking lots would be convenient for ATVers.

Wilson explained that their hope is to find a contractor who’ll want to swap the value of the top soil that needs to be removed for the gravel and crusher dust that’s needed for the parking lot and road.

The suggested gravel lot is anticipated to be 100 feet by 200 feet and constructed sometime next year if a suitable contractor is found.

Representatives of the town’s audit firm came to visit the selectmen as a result of previous discussions about the costs of their service. Ron Smith provided a thorough explanation of the history of their service to the town, and reasons for the mention of potential cost increases.

It was concluded that he should provide a written cost for the standard service and then provide an hourly charge should extra issues arise.