Select Board approves $600 emergency cemetery repairs and deposits Summit Gas escrow check

The Skowhegan Select Board on April 28 approved emergency repairs to the South Side Cemetery and accepted an escrow deposit from Summit Gas.

Gail told the board she had found 47 headstones knocked over in one section of the South Side Cemetery; volunteers and the fire department responded, and the town contacted the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to perform stone repair. Gail requested emergency funds from the cemetery-maintenance designation in capital reserves to buy supplies for repairs, saying the cost estimate was $570.22 and asking approval not to exceed $600. The board approved a motion to authorize up to $600 for the DAR repairs; the motion carried 5–0.

Gail also reported the town received an $8,339.49 check from Summit Gas for road-opening permits and asked permission to deposit the check into the highway-department escrow account so the town can track permit fees and keep interest. The board voted to approve the deposit; the motion carried 5–0.

Why it matters: the town moved quickly to secure funds to restore damaged historic grave markers ahead of Memorial Day, and the Summit Gas escrow helps the highway department manage permit revenue while work is ongoing.