Case Details

- Case Details:

Case Number:

2024-00300

Case Status:

Open

Utility/Industry Type :

Water

Utility/Industry Subtype :

Water

Case Type :

COMPLAINT

Case Subtype :

10 PERSON COMPLAINT

Pertaining to Utility/Company :

LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Case Title :

10 PERSON COMPLAINT CONCERNING INCREASE IN RATES PERTAINING TO LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Initiating Filer :

McCabe et al, Timothy

Case Start Date :

11/1/2024

Assigned Staff :

Dale.Coty,
Jordan.D.McColman,
Lucretia.Smith,
Stephani.Morancie,
amy.mills,
Jason.Marco

View Case References

Filings (58) Data Requests (4)Public Comments (20) Active Party and Notification List (14) Assigned Staff (6)

Item No.	Date Filed	Description Of Filing	Filing Party	Filed By	No of Attachments	Deleted Filings
58	4/23/2025	Protective Order No. 2 (confidential business information)	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
57	4/22/2025	Motion for Protective Order	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	Verrill Dana, LLP	2
56	4/22/2025	Office of the Public Advocate Objection to Request for Reconsideration	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	PUBLIC ADVOCATE, MAINE OFFICE OF THE	1
55	4/18/2025	Procedural Order on Updated Schedule	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
54	4/18/2025	Request for Extension to Respond to Data Requests	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	Verrill Dana, LLP	1
53	4/18/2025	TRANSCRIPT PWH 4/16/2025	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
52	4/15/2025	LDA Request for Reconsideration	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	Verrill Dana, LLP	1
51	4/9/2025	Procedural Order on Request for View of Water Department Facilities	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	1
50	4/8/2025	OPA's OBJECTION TO LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR VIEW OF WATER DEPARTMENT FACILITIES	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	PUBLIC ADVOCATE, MAINE OFFICE OF THE	1
49	4/8/2025	Procedural Order on Data Requests	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	COMMISSION STAFF, CMS	3

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View By Set	View By Question

View By Set

View By Question

DR Set ID	Set Description	Issue Date	No. of DR Questions	Propounded Upon	View Questions in Set
10PE-000	COMPLAINANTS	4/8/2025	6	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	View Questions
EXM-001	EXM-001	4/8/2025	38	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	View Questions
OPA-001	OPA-001	4/8/2025	22	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	View Questions
OPA-002	OPA-002	4/8/2025	10	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	View Questions

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Posted By	Posted Date	Comments	Attachment(s)
Robert J. Maysahock 181 Pleasant View est. Turbotville, PA 17772 Email ID: RJMayshock@gmail.com Phone No.: 570-490-4028	4/14/2025	I am a former airman who served at the former Loring Air Force Base near Limestone Maine. I am aware of the plight of the remaining business located on the former base property (now the Loring Commerce Center. Recently, the PUC has decided to dramatically raise the water service rates on the few businesses and residents that still remain on the property. Since I along with my wife and five grandchildren have been, and still are, seasonal visitors and volunteers to that facility, I am requesting that you intervene in the current impossible and unbelievable rate increase which has been imposed on the residents and businesses on the Loring Commerce Center. While the water supply infrastructure is said to be deteriorating, the base has been closed for over 30 years. The Loring Development authority has received large sums of money to develop the property and keep up the facilities. They have not done that. Now, they want the few remaining residents and businesses support the need renovations themselves. I am asking that you prevent the Loring Development Authority and local utility at the Loring Commerce Center from killing off the last remaining hope of re-developing that property. PLEASE do what is right for those who live and earn a living there. Thank you. Robert J Mayshock and Family
Gail D Isabel Gail Isabel 11 Colony Pl Limestone, ME 04750 Email ID: isabel2632@twc.com Phone No.: 2075518399	4/8/2025	The following are items the Complainants would like to include in the Data Request: 1. EXACTLY what did MRWA do, specifically, to decrease the cost of operating the water system? 2. Does LDA pay the same uniform rate as the "22" RATE PAYERS? 2.1. Which LDA bldgs, by address or description, are being supplied & charged for water? 2.2. Which LDA bldgs, by address or description, are being supplied with water, but NOT charged for it? 3. Is Green4Maine (G4Maine) included in this cost sharing? 3.1. Which buildings, by address or description, of the 22 rate payers does G4Maine own/occupy? 3.2. Which bldgs, by address or description, are being supplied & charged for water? 3.2. Which bldgs, by address or description, are being supplied with water, but NOT charged for it? 4. It was stated by LDA that the new Potato chip plant would only be Paying "A hundred dollars more"....Per what? What does that mean? 5. From whom has the LDA applied to for funding/financial assistance in the last 10 years? 5.1. What was the requested funding to be used for? 5.2. Which of the requests were granted? 5.2. How much was received from each one? 5.3.How has the LDA spent the financial assistance given, in detail? 6. How does LDA know which size each meter is? 6.1. How can the customer determine the meter size on their own? The TEMPORARY RATE FILING RATE filed 4/2/2025 by MRWA included two tables on the 2nd page. Under the table headed "Oct 2024 APPROVED rates", under the "Bills" column, there is a "0" next to 3/4" meters. However, my 4th qtr 2024 bill, and at least 4 other customers that I know of, were billed $589.12 for our usage with a 3/4" meter!	{C033F895-0000-CE14-82D1-67B65F5C896A}.pdf
Michael MacDonald Gray Water District 81 Birchwood Rd., Gray, ME 04039 Email ID: mikemacd86@gmail.com Phone No.: 207-650-8502	3/21/2025	As a Trustee of Gray Water District I have experienced the financial difficulties of operating a small public water system. With the cost of everything continuing to rise at alarming rates, the revenue is almost impossible to fund the necessary improvements and regulatory requirements that are being forced on us. I previously worked as a consultant to many of the regulated systems in Maine and can attest to the difficulties they all face while trying to keep the rates reasonable. In the last few years, we have seen the costs of projects increase substantially from the concept and funding applications to the actual bid process. Our consumers expect the water to be available and clean when they need it, but don't seem to appreciate the effort and expense of delivering that service.
Jeremy McDaniel Maine Municipal Bond Bank 127 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330 Email ID: jmcdaniel@mmbb.com Phone No.: 207-620-1473	3/21/2025	Jeremy McDaniel, Drinking Water/Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program Officer at Maine Municipal Bond Bank, Augusta, Maine Commenting on docket number 2024-00300, 10-person complaint regarding rate increase pertaining to Loring Development Authority. Please accept my written comments I have attached. If there are any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at jmcdaniel@mmbb.com or call me at 207-620-1473. Thank you	LDA Comments for Docket # 2024-00300.pdf
Kirsten Hebert Maine Rural Water Association P.O. Box 263 Richmond, ME 04357 Email ID: kirstenh@mainerwa.org Phone No.: 207-737-4092	3/21/2025	Please see attached comments.	MRWA Response to Staff Recommendation.docx
Amy Lachance Maine Drinking Water Program 286 Water Street, Augusta, ME 04333 Email ID: amy.lachance@maine.gov Phone No.: 207-557-2380	3/21/2025	The Maine DHHS-CDC Drinking Water Program (DWP) is responsible for the oversight of all Public Water Systems (PWS) in the State, pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and related State statutes and rules. The Loring Development Authority (LDA) PWS treats surface water from the Little Madawaska River. Surface water plants require significant filtration and disinfection treatment to reduce disease-causing pathogens in order to produce safe drinking water. The DWP wishes to emphasize the importance of ensuring that the LDA maintains the technical, managerial and financial capacity to sustainably operate their water treatment plant in both the short term and the long term, for the purpose of public health protection. Amy Lachance Drinking Water Program Manager Division of Environmental and Community Health DHHS-CDC (207) 557-2380
David Parent Maine Water Utilities Association 15 University Drive Augusta, ME 04330 Email ID: dparent@sanfordwater.org Phone No.: 2076239511	3/21/2025	Comments of the Maine Water Utilities Association	2024-00300 MWUA comments 3.21.25.pdf
Jonathan Judkins Loring Development Authority 190 Weinman Road Limestone, ME 04750 Email ID: jjudkins@loring.org Phone No.: 207-560-9496	1/10/2025	Please read attached response.	PUC response Jan 9 2025.pdf
Sheldon Corey JAKS Property Management 53 Manser Rd Email ID: office@jakspropertymgmt.com Phone No.: 2073256070	1/10/2025	According to the increase in the water rates, Manser Drive's Yearly Bill will be averaging $80,000. Manser Drive cannot sustain these costs, as we would have to do a rent increase of $260.00 a month per unit. Closing Manser Drive would displace 34 Families (5 of which are Low Income Based) and stop progression on (16) 3 Bedroom units available to renovated. J.A.K.S. is committed to the revitalization of Manser Drive and with this substantial rate increase we will be closed by end of year.
Kameron Waff 17 Virginia Place Email ID: kwwaff@gmail.com Phone No.: (757) 901-2085	1/9/2025	Hello, I am a current resident of The Bunker Inn located on base. The rates that have been proposed are so astronomically high in price that it borders on absurdity. I understand a need over time for the rates to be increased, but I do not believe the execution on display by the LDA is ethical nor has it been adequate in informing the tenants and residents. I have attached the meeting minutes from 2024 that included mentions of the water rates. I would like for the PUC to note that each minute attached to the comments is labeled as "DRAFTs". The meeting minutes shown were only brought forth by LDA upon the complaint being filed by the tenants. Such minutes were not posted for viewing by the LDA on the Loring Commerce Center webpage until December 12th, 2024. This lapse in time, despite the board voting to approve the minutes, presents a major issue for information verification by the tenants on base. I would also note this is not the first or last instance of such behavior by the board, as the November and December meeting minutes are, as of writing, still not available on the LDA webpage. The formatting of the minutes is also incredibly vague for any who were not in attendance at the meetings. The only guaranteed event that can be reasonably assumed by these minutes is that the rates themselves were not discussed with the tenants until October 2024. There is a brief mention of a meeting held on September 25th, but as the minutes described, there was no mention of this, at the time, upcoming meeting whatsoever. This is especially baffling when taking into account the tenants actively and repeatedly visiting the LDA offices concerning billings. This behavior was also repeated, again, when a December 19th meeting was held without any prior notice, despite Mr. Judkins assuring notice was given in the November meeting (that cannot be verified). LDA has also failed to provide meter service promptly. The communication by the LDA has been unacceptable.	2024.04.17-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf 2024.05.22-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf 2024.06.-26-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf 2024.10.17-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf 2024.08.15-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf 2024.09.19-Board-Meeting-Minutes-DRAFT.pdf

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Notification List Active Party List

Name of Person/Company	Representing Company	Mailing Address	Email/Phone/Fax
Beaulieu, Mike	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	ME	Email ID: MBeaulieu@loring.org Phone Fax:
Deprey, Elizabeth	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	103 Water Street, 3rd FL Hallowell ME 04347	Email ID: elizabeth.m.deprey@maine.gov Phone Fax:
Dunitz, Jonathan	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	One Portland Square Portland ME 04101	Email ID: jdunitz@verrill-law.com Phone Ph: 207-774-4000 Fax:
Hebert, Kirsten	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	254 Alexander Reed Road Richmond ME 04357	Email ID: kirstenh@mainerwa.org Phone Ph: 207-737-4092 Fax: Fax: 207-737-7150
Hevey, Richard	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	112 State House Station Augusta ME 04333 0112	Email ID: richard.p.hevey@maine.gov Phone Ph: 207-557-0290 Fax:
Isabel, Gail	10 PERSON COMPLAINT	11 Colony Pl Limestone ME 04750	Email ID: isabel2632@twc.com Phone Ph: 207-551-8399 Fax:
Judkins, Jonathan	LORING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY	ME	Email ID: jjudkins@loring.org Phone Fax:
Lesko, Amy		PO Box 1058 45 Memorial Circle Augusta ME 04332	Email ID: alesko@preti.com Phone Ph: 207-623-5300 Extn: 3195 Fax: Fax: 207-623-2914
McCabe et al, Timothy	10 PERSON COMPLAINT	17 Virginia Place Limestone ME 04750	Email ID: mccabtim@gmail.com Phone Ph: 207-450-4935 Fax:
Morgan, Lafayette	OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE	10480 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 300 Columbia MD 21044	Email ID: lmorgan@exeterassociates.com Phone Ph: 410-992-7500 Fax:

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Staff Name	Role
Coty, Dale	Support Staff
Marco, Jason	Staff Analyst
McColman, Jordan	Hearing Examiner
Mills, Amy	Hearing Examiner
Morancie, Stephani	Staff Analyst
Smith, Lucretia	Staff Analyst

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