RUMFORD — Selectmen will convene a public hearing at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 7, on construction of a mountain bike trail system on town land behind the Public Works Garage and River Valley Crossing mall off Route 2.

The meeting will be held in Rumford Falls Auditorium. Selectmen and Town Manager Carlo Puiia are expected to share the results of Brian Alexander’s findings.

Alexander, the owner of Red Oak Enterprises in Rome, was contracted by the town to scout the entire property to locate the best possible route for a mountain bike trail.

He said he found the route on the outer areas of the parcel rather than the interior, which was “extremely wet and rutted.”

“The combination of both sides of the property sloping to the center carrying water from the hillside and skidder damage from recent logging operations eliminated it from consideration,” Alexander wrote in his assessment document.

The outer areas, he said, are much drier and would be easier to build on.

“The slope is considerable and steady, but with the necessary ‘switchbacks’ in the trail, I think it will be very rideable and fun as well, with very little problems with erosion,” Alexander said.

The trails will have to be maintained periodically for erosion protection.

“The southwest corner of the property, close to Public Works, will lend itself to a nice half mile ‘play area’ style trail,” he said.

He said there are nine places that will cross water or muddy sections and should be bridged or rock-armored.

The total cost of the project, including nine bridges, is estimated to be $14,388.

Alexander also included his thoughts on creation of a “pump track,” the latest craze in the world of mountain biking. He said the property has the elements, they just need to be assembled.

A pump track is a small, looping trail system that one can ride continuously without pedaling, according to “Pumpin’: An Introduction to the World of Pump Tracks,” written by Seth Lightcap of California’s Adventure Sports Journal.

“Think rollercoaster on a bike,” Alexander said of his idea, which could be built for less than $5,000 if Rumford was willing and on-site materials could be used.

Selectmen will convene their meeting at 7 p.m., during which approval is sought to develop a mountain bike trail system.

Other agenda items are having a Maine Department of Transportation official address the board’s safety concerns for Route 2 up Falls Hill; an update from town forester Brian Milligan on the winter harvest; approval of a gravel and winter sand bid; and a request from Community Concepts to use Morency Park for a volunteer driver barbecue and vehicle inspection.

A closed-door session is scheduled for a personnel matter.

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