Commissioner's agreed in 2-0 vote to ³donate² $15,000 toward a feasibility study for the proposed construction of the non-profit education center. The site for the proposed structure is located on Route 15 adjacent to the Department of Transportation picnic area, and construction costs are estimated at $2.5 million. Commissioner Tony Bartley Jr. abstained from voting since he is a member of the committee seeking funds for the project.

The county funds are to come from the unorganized territory budget. In separate action, commissioner unanimously voted to allocate $10,000 to Greenville for future improvements at the municipal airport. Commissioners agreed to insert the requested $10,000 in the unorganized townships' 2002-2003 budget which becomes effective next July.

It became clear during Tuesday's discussions that the airstrip is likely to become a more frequently-used facility, perhaps being renamed Moosehead Regional Airport.

Chairman Eben DeWitt read a letter from Greenville Town Manager John Simko, which stated, in part, ³The Greenville Municipal Airport needs to change to a regional airport. The letter noted that a chartering process is in the works to form an airport authority to oversee its operation.

Greenville will soon be making a $100,000 investment in the airport thanks to an infusion of federal and state funds, Simko wrote. Plans call for the removal of trees, bushes, the reconstruction of the main 4,000 foot runway as well as the installation of new lights.

And, that's not all. Simko said the town is on the state's Department of Transportation's list for new snow removal equipment, which will become airport property and not to be used for any other municipal application unless an extreme emergency arises.

Greenville is also working with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to secure both a complete automated service observation system (ASOS) and a radio transmitter to collect and broadcast accurate meteorological data at the airport. Federal dollars are also funding these projects.

Commissioners also approved paying a $12,815 bill out of this year's unorganized township budget for mowing the Greenville airport this summer.

In other matters, commissioners conducted a tax abatement hearing brought by 78-year-old Guy Cox against the town of Dover-Foxcroft.

Cox felt the assessment recently placed on his home was raised unfairly, saying he was being penalized by the town because they made ³a mistake² six years ago.

Town Assessor Louis R. Durgin admitted during the hearing the town erred in 1994 - ³before his watch² - and that it was picked up when the town was re-evaluated. He also told commissioners that Cox actually benefited during the six years, and said the valuation is now fair and equitable.

Those words were obviously small comfort to Cox, who said he has made no repairs to his home and that his property was ³sliced² when Route 15 was improved. ³I'm going to be the loser,² Cox said.

At the conclusion of Tuesday's hearing, Chairman DeWitt said he and another commissioner would visit Cox¹s property and that the board would make a decision in 60 days.