Roller skating moving to Saturday nights

MEXICO -- Roller skating is starting this week at the Mexico Rec Center, but there are some changes.

At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Sept. 25, Rec Board Chair Mabel Merrill said roller skating will now be held on Saturday nights.

The program, now done through the rec department, will take place from 6-9 p.m., beginning this Saturday.

Regarding current rec activities in the town's rec park, she said the soccer program has 108 youngsters, with another 40 kids involved in the flag football program.

Merrill said they are planning a Haunted Walk from Oct. 25-27.

Selectman Byron Ouellette suggested that the rec committee consider selling banners displaying business logos as a way to raise funds for the department. The banners have been a successful fundraiser for the Greater Rumford Community Center.

In other business, the contract for the purchase of 3,000 cubic yards of half-inch screened sand was awarded to Archie's Inc. of Mexico at a cost of $7.61 per cubic yard.

Town Manager John Madigan was authorized to investigate the costs for buying gasoline from neighboring Rumford, or the Maine Department of Transportation in Dixfield. Neighboring Dixfield recently approved buying gasoline from the MDOT.

He was also authorized to enter into an agreement with whichever source is the most beneficial for the town. Mexico buys its diesel fuel through RSU 10.

Madigan was also directed to investigate the least expensive heating oil company for the purchase of about 23,000 gallons for heating several municipal buildings.

Four bids were submitted, but it wasn't clear what the rack price, or price before the markup, would be for several of them. Oil companies submit a certain number of cents above the rack price as the final price per gallon.

Selectmen appointed Ralph Santillo III, owner of Roy's Driving Academy, to the town's recreation committee for a one-year term.

Santillo, who plans to move his business into the Mexico Recreation Building sometime in early October, was unanimously appointed the seventh Recreation Committee member. That board is now full, said Merrill. Only one alternate member seat is open.

The board approved the purchase of a basket/cage for use by the public works department when employees work at heights. About $2,200 from the Maine Municipal Association's loss prevention program will be used, along with a possible grant Madigan was directed to look into.

Selectman George Byam noted that the electricity usage in the rec building is down by nearly half from this time a year ago.