KINGFIELD – Selectmen announced Monday night that they have scheduled a public hearing at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at Webster Hall to discuss a redesigned rate structure and to request approval to apply for a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant.

The grant would permit the town to overhaul its aging neighborhood pumping and wastewater processing systems.

The current system requires $104,000 in annual revenue to pay its expenses, $25,400 of which consists of allocated funds from a tax-sheltered account.

In order to raise the remaining $78,600 needed to meet annual expenses, selectmen met with Maine Rural Water Association Executive Director Steve Levy to discuss the approval of a redesigned rate structure to help cover expensive repairs and upgrades.

Currently, the 267 units in the system use 7,212,000 gallons of water. Per-gallon usage (billed at $.00535) would generate $38,550. In order to make up the difference, selectmen approved a flat annual fee of $150 to bring in the needed $40,050 of additional gross income.

The second part of the hearing revolves around a grant application for major upgrades and repairs to the entire wastewater system.

To be eligible for the grant, selectmen must prove that funds will serve a percentage of low- and middle-income citizens. Levy has designed an income survey which six students from the University of Maine at Farmington will bring door-to-door in order to get basic information. According to Marble, Western Maine Transportation will bring the students back and forth from the campus each day.

Grant writer Rodney Lynch states that the town does not currently have to expend funds and believes that it has a 50-50 chance of getting the grant.

“Our letter of intent (to apply) is due by Jan. 18,” administrative assistant Douglas Marble said.

If voters approve the grant application proposal and survey results determine that the required minimum of residents fall into the low-income category, Lynch will submit the final application by March 8.

In order to get the process started, voters must approve a 25 percent cash match allocation at a public hearing. The money can come from reserves appropriated from approved Tax Increment Financing projects. If the town receives the grant, selectmen will appoint an organizational committee of business leaders, public individuals and municipal officials.

Selectmen have yet to determine how to deal with several properties in foreclosure because of nonpayment of back taxes. Three property owners, Jane Crossman, Carl Dietrich and Tyler Winter, have no contact information, and Town Clerk Leanna Targett told selectmen she needed guidance in order to close each of these cases.

“We own them at this point, but how do we get a quitclaim deed?” she asked.

Targett said she has also sent notices to the banks foreclosing on the properties, letting them know there are liens on the properties. Selectmen will request information from the town’s attorney, Frank Underkuffler, to learn about their legal obligations before taking any action.

In other news, Stacy Thompson was approved as the transfer station manager. Selectmen will create a job posting for a part-time assistant reporting to Thompson.