MEXICO — The Mexico Police Department has been awarded a $9,000 OUI enforcement grant.

Police Chief Roy Hodsdon announced the grant during Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen. He said the grant begins in March and goes through September. It consists of an OUI detail in four-hour intervals twice a week, with funding for one large detail sometime during the six months.

In another department matter, Hodsdon said the Police Explorers will be cooking as they run the Lions’ lunch wagon during the upcoming ice fishing derby on Feb. 14 at Roxbury Pond, with all proceeds going to the Explorers.

In other business:

* The board heard from Rich Viitala Jr. of Fire & Iron Athletics, which is leasing space from the town at the Recreation Center, as well as using fitness equipment owned by the town. Selectmen were concerned because they had not seen their rent money.

Viitala indicated he had recently brought in $600. Asked about his ability to pay the $330 per month rent, he said he probably could during the fall and winter months, when he has around 20 memberships, but it’s difficult during the warmer months when that number is about half.

“Is it worth having it open in the summer?” Selectman Reggie Arsenault said.

“We do have some die-hards who are here year round,” said Viitala, who offers eight classes per week.

Town Manager John Madigan asked how the fitness equipment is holding up.

“I have one treadmill (on which the) incline and decline doesn’t work, but otherwise it’s all holding up well,” Viitala said.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Richie Philbrick suggested having Viitala sit down with the board in the spring to “work out something” with the rent that the business can reasonably work with.

Arsenault requested that the meeting take place sooner, in April. The board agreed to meet with Viitala at its April 14 board meeting.

* After hearing concerns from several of the town’s 20 employees about the merger/sharing service discussions with Rumford, Arsenault requested that the Mexico board hold a workshop to meet with them.

“Everyone is concerned about their jobs and they want to have input on this,” Madigan said.

Selectman Byron Ouellette said this could provide them with some valuable information.

They decided to hold the workshop at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, downstairs in the Calvin Lyons Meeting Room.

* In a continued discussion, Ouellette updated the board about replacing the big kitchen stove in the Calvin Lyons Meeting Room, used primarily by GRAMPS for community meals.

He said the free electric commercial Vulcan stove offered by former selectman Peter Merrill was not suitable. Ouellette said he recommended a self-cleaning stove that could be purchased at Sears for less than $400. The board directed Ouellette to offer an opportunity to local business Larsen’s Electric Service to match the price at Sears.

At the previous meeting, Philbrick said there is about $700 in an account to replace the stove.

* Following public hearings, selectmen approved a trailer park license renewal for Laurie Frost of Oak Street Park; two taxi license renewals for Charles Proffitt for EZ Taxi and Veterans Taxi; and a pawnbrokers license renewal for Gary Gammon of the Mexico Trading Post.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net