Zip line may run at Rumford’s Pumpkin Fest

RUMFORD — A one-day zip line may run during the annual downtown River Valley Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 14.

Selectmen voted Thursday night to grant the request by Tom Carey of Wow-Za! Ziplines, contingent upon whether he can secure the necessary liability insurance.

Carey said that obtaining that insurance, just for one day, is “more expensive” than it used to be. Two quotes so far each carry a $5,000 tag.

“This all depends on insurance that is workable,” he said.

Wow-Za! Ziplines, which Carey says is working on placing a permanent zip line in Rumford, is planning on a one-day zip line that would start in back of the Rite Aid on Congress Street and run more than 600 feet to a location across the Androscoggin River.

This would be the same setup used in May 2013 during the town’s Lumberjack Festival.

Again there would be a fee for users, but Carey said all of the net proceeds would go to EnvisionRumford, which is sponsoring the Pumpkin Fest.

Carey said Wow-Za! Ziplines partner Jim Sysko would be doing the engineering for the one-day zip line. He said Jim Thibodeau has offered the use of a skidder to hold the beginning of the zip-line.

A zip line would also have to pass an inspection by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Carey said they would also have to obtain harnesses for the riders.

In other business:

• Approved was a request by Finance Director Deb Laurinaitis to move $14,000 from the Contingency Account to the Solicitor’s Account to cover an overage. She said this resulted from the use of the town attorney to represent the town during the Rumford Water District’s contract negotiation process with Poland Spring.

• Selectmen awarded the printing bid for the town report to The Snowman Group of Herman at $634.20.

• The board moved the Oct. 5 regular meeting to Oct. 12 because of the Maine Municipal Association’s annual convention.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net