Hearing set for Robinson's Mill

OXFORD — The Board of Selectmen approved a public hearing for a move that could eventually pump life back into the Robinson Mill, a 100-year-old textile plant that the town took control of in October 2009.

Under the plan, the town would form a non-profit entity that would apply for a $250,000 development grant, which would be used to help restore the ailing structure.

Then, town leaders hope to sell the improved building, and receive the proceeds from the sale.

Town Manager Michael Chammings says that the grant process is competitive, with only one proposed project receiving funding. 

"It's been a very exciting project because it is moving forward," said Chammings. "It is a competitive grant, but I think we've got a good grant application started. The state thinks it's a good project, so I think we have a good shot at it. A lot of work just to get to that point."

The town would have to provide matching funds for the project as well.

"If that project is passed through, we have to match $50,000 and we have to lay out what's going to be done to upgrade that mill," said Chammings.

Chammings says that, although the town would give control of the building to the non-profit, the transfer would only apply to the grant.

"The mill will be turned over for the grant purposes only," said Chammings.

Chammings said that he has been in contact with a potential buyer, but he declined to release the buyer's name, or exactly what business would be moved in.

"I do not believe that they want to release their names yet," said Chammings.

The money would be used to address some of the issues that are preventing the building from being a viable operation.

"A lot of wiring has been taken out of it," said Chammings. "It needs about $100,000 worth of wiring put back into it. It needs to be upgraded for the fire suppression. Obviously, I have issues with the dam and the sewer system, and a lot of the structure on the back side is blighted and falling apart."

Once the structure is back on its feet, said Chammings, the town should be able to sell it.

"This would be turned over to this non-profit and then it would be marketed and sold. Once it was sold, all the proceeds go back to the town and then it goes back to a taxable entity," said Chammings.

Chammings said that interested buyers would be able to hire "I think somewhere between seven to 13" workers, and start paying property taxes.

"I have cooperating people currently right now that are looking at that building to purchase it after we can upgrade it because there are a lot of upgrade costs," said Chammings. "If we could do that, create some jobs, get that back on the tax rolls, that would be the goal."

The grant is a part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program that is specifically geared toward non-profit development. The public hearing is a necessary part of the grant application.

 The public hearing will be held at the beginning of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board, which is Thursday, March 3 at the Oxford Town office.

The board voted to take control of the mill in October 2009 for back taxes, by a 3-2 vote. Selectmen Floyd Thayer, Roger Jackson, and Dennis Sanborn voted in favor of the acquisition, with Selectmen Jay Goforth and Scott Owens voting against.