Michaud has overseen great improvements in Saco

I am one of the five Saco city councilors who voted to retain Richard Michaud as Saco’s administrator, and to give him a new contract.

Since the time of the vote, we have received a number of emails about the matter, some of which complain that it was a poor decision, since the city currently is poorly managed, Saco has one of the highest property tax rates around, and Saco is in tough shape financially.

We think Michaud has done a very good job in the 15 years he has worked for Saco. In the course of his work, he has had an essential role, together with our very skilled staff, in accomplishing the following:

1. Saco has a reasonable property tax rate. Many full services communities in Maine have a higher property tax rate than Saco.

2. Saco has a long term debt of only $15,280,330, compared to Scarborough at $97,895,000 and Biddeford at $67,542,235, to give just two examples.

3. Built a new fire station, as the old station built in the 1930s was too smalL We sold the old station to a very skilled developer we solicited, who did a very good job remodeling the old station into retail and residential space.

4. Converted to automated trash and recycling pickup using carts. We are one of only a few communities in Maine to have done this. It is cheaper, cleaner, safer and faster than the old method of picking up trash cans and recycling bins by hand.

5. The Saco Police Department’s crime clearance rates are high, they are well-respected in our community, and the department is well-equipped. They have good, stable leadership that derives, in part, from good leadership from the city administrator’s office.

6. Built a beautiful new train station, which people really like and use.

7. Built the Eastern Trail from Thornton Academy to Old Orchard Beach.

8. Purchased the armory and remodeled it into a community center, expanded recreation programming, and built a dog park in Pepperell Park.

9. Saco’s Water Resource Recovery Facility has undergone many upgrades over the last decade and is considered one of the most energy-efficient facilities in New England.

10. The money Saco spends for employment costs is below the average, according to a 22-town survey completed by Biddeford’s finance director.

11. Presently, Saco’s fire and ambulance service gets to the scene in 4 minutes for 60-plus percent of its calls.

12. It costs $1 million per year for Saco to properly maintain its roads, and Saco’s roads are in better shape and kept cleaner than most other communities.

13. Saco is a very desirable place to live. From June 1, 2001 to today, approximately 1,400 housing units have been built in Saco. This does not count a number of high-quality senior housing developments.

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