The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Board to Decide Lake Cobbossee lots' fate

July 24, 2010 - LITCHFIELD -- The fate of two beach lots in the Peace Pipe Shores subdivision might be settled Tuesday.

Selectmen are expected to award ownership of the lots to the highest bidder at the board's meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office.

Two groups submitted bids to buy the two-lot package in beach areas on Lake Cobbossee.

One group of 11 people, headed by Michael Kane and William Penfold, submitted a bid of $67,000. Ten of the individuals are owners of lots that abut the larger beach lot.

A second group of four couples -- headed by Steve Lemieux, who is president of Peacepipe Shores Road Association -- submitted a bid of $35,000.

The bids were opened July 13, and Town Manager Michael Byron said Wednesday that office staff has verified that both bids meet the minimum requirements:

* minimum bid of $20,000;

* deposit of 20 percent of bid; and

* ownership by bidders of land in Peace Pipe Shores.

The bidders also had to agree that future conveyances would include both lots and be restricted to people or entities owning land in Peace Pipe Shores. Under the terms of the tax sale, the town will issue a quitclaim deed to the successful bidder.

Maurice Bernier, who owns a lot in the Peace Pipe Shores, and his son, David Bernier, were at the Town Office on Tuesday to look at the language about access to the beaches. Maurice Bernier said he was not one of the bidders.

"The prospective owners will have to honor all the easements that give deeded access," Byron said.

More than 80 lots are in the subdivision; perhaps a quarter of the homes are occupied year-round.

The successful bidder has 30 days to complete the purchase or lose the deposit. Selectmen may then negotiate with the unsuccessful bidder under terms of the bid notice.

The minimum bid was set to cover legal fees of town attorney Clifford Goodall, plus the town's cost of removing illegally dumped sand from the property and unpaid tax liens.

The sand -- dumped by an unidentified person -- was used to rebuild a beach on one of the lots in July 2007. A town crew removed the sand and restored the area after the state Department of Environmental Protection said the project violated the Natural Resources Protection Act.

Paul Ruopp, a surveyor hired by the town to research the property ownership, determined that tax liens went to foreclosure on one or both lots in 1978-79 and 1983-84.

A later deed -- apparently not recorded at the Registry of Deeds until 2008 -- indicated ownership of the lots was transferred from Parker Lakeshores Inc., to Peacepipe Shores Road Owners Association, on Aug. 31, 1984.

by Betty Adams, Kennebec Journal, July 24, 2010

Lakes: Cobbosseecontee Lake
Regions: Belgrade


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News