The Portland Water District continued its quest to buy up land around Sebago Lake with the acquisition of a garage and filling station in Standish.
Hunt’s Service Station, on Route 114 in Sebago Lake Village, is under contract to the district for $350,000, according to the district’s spokeswoman Michelle Clements.
“He approached us, and we signed a purchase and sales agreement,” said Clements. “We’re now in the process of doing some analysis of the site.”
In the past, the service station, previously known as Walker’s, had a leak in one of its tanks. Although that leak was repaired and a monitoring system installed, the water district still has concerns about possible contamination to the area. It is working with the Department of Environmental Protection to determine what, if any, contamination problems still exist.
For the past two years, David Hunt has owned and operated the station, which sits on about a half-acre of land. But he decided to sell the property because he’s losing money.
“Business is dying,” he said. “The gasoline business is dying.”
When he first took over the service station, he said he was selling 10,000 to 16,000 gallons of gas per week. Now, the amount is closer to 5,000 gallons. He says there’s just too much competition nearby.
When the sale of his property goes through, around the end of February, Hunt plans to keep his towing business and go back to work for Midas in Portland. And, although he lives in Standish, he jokingly says he “might have to move out of state” to escape the wrath of some of the residents who disapprove of him selling to the water district – residents like Mike Philbrook, who feel Hunt should stay put.
“I think the local businesses should stay local businesses instead of being sold to the Portland Water District,” he said. “They’ve got so much land around here. It’s a pain in the butt to come down here on a snowmobile with all their land fenced off.”
Patty Barr, who works at TJ’s on the corner of routes 35 and 114, agrees.
“I don’t feel good about it,” she said of the district’s buying the station. “I understand people have got to do what they’ve got to do, but every time (district officials) hear someone wants to sell their land they want to buy it.”
But other people are more pragmatic. “As long as the guy is making money,” said Jim MacDonald, of Buxton.
When asked the district’s plans for the land, Clements said nothing has been determined yet.
“In the past, we’ve usually reconstructed it back to its natural state,” she said. “We’re open.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
