[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6371766,"mediaKeyId","2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac","parentId",2149125,"title","Selectmen hear early interest in raising veterans' tax credit; public commenter urges school-board engagement","audioSeconds",676,"startMs",1895000,"endMs",2571000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac&start=1895&end=2571","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac/thumbnail_1895000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6371766/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Selectmen-hear-early-interest-in-raising-veterans-tax-credit-public-commenter-urges-school-board-engagement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371766-b83120ba8cf9e193141c355ee3f61cb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=JIixUYOWJHsF160BUAJkTXw0yEgb7jYAUm-PheTckfdzOSflta7ZGccp3N5fx4OrIXcMygIcpEO71fdUsiNyvwLFuzJhoEabattbW1mtbgwM4ZibRnOIfEPTUZOcGIof9IusYbWZi06hFfR2BgBTDXOM1Fl0QeET4aMfF-HQ6iiKind8YHE01zIOppspEu5aFBPxf-gW6h7jkKcU0SLRA4PtusKmXf3-barFDkCfpHWW8iotF2hmtoxKNWFTuFnniB79SGmgjCvIVFR9Tfa0RS0kNtOd~9MGtv~y7gB3MOJS1Si-223V34BBeXJMlDrMvcREzN-0iXb4tT6VEJ6Q2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Loudon, New Hampshire","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Several attendees raised veterans’ tax-credit policy and school-board engagement during the meeting’s new-business and public-comment portions.

Selectmen said a fellow combat veteran contacted them proposing an increase to the town’s veterans’ tax credit from $500 to $750. The chair and selectmen noted the change would need approval at town meeting; they described the eligibility framework as governed by state RSA (as discussed in the meeting) and said the town must quantify fiscal impacts before placing such a measure on the warrant. Selectmen estimated there are about 303 veterans eligible under the town’s existing definition but said they had not yet produced a cost estimate for an increase.

In public comment, resident Sean Kitson urged the selectmen to encourage the town’s school-board representatives to be more actively engaged at school-board meetings, saying he observed board members at a recent meeting did not ask questions when budget figures and warrant-article proposals were discussed. Kitson suggested the selectmen contact the school-board representatives to encourage more engagement; selectmen said they could raise the matter directly or individual selectmen could attend school-board sessions.

Selectmen said the veterans’ credit proposal may be raised as either a selectmen-sponsored warrant article or a resident petition and indicated they would check legal requirements with the town attorney and provide further information before town meeting.

Ending: The board scheduled related public hearings in January; any formal veterans-credit proposal will require a fiscal estimate and a vote at town meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Selectmen - January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident and a fellow veteran raised the possibility of increasing Loudoun's veterans' property-tax credit from $500 to $750 and discussed the process; a resident in public comment urged the town’s school-board representatives to take a more active role at school-board meetings.","taxTitle","Loudon, Merrimack County , New Hampshire","taxId",61624,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6371769,"Road agent reports equipment repairs, cardboard baler outage and leaf cleanup",171,172000,343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac&start=172&end=343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6371769/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Road-agent-reports-equipment-repairs-cardboard-baler-outage-and-leaf-cleanup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371769-aca4fc977b33ff3568c9f60a7526a91e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=LrkN7ygKNUYHGJd-F6Y6ZkVoahv9CWc1WHKo6qRDH1iWNPLtaEC1t1MPxVXuMzNFKHZYC91fPtt~LggJdaI~aq~rCDMkK9pO5n8PN898hUIzEUl87Yacy8OF0Q1Kso6gRbgn5OZpE7gK2jkHqeIfcIpcUmGc1odKPK9bRMgB1xTVE2KnXrRZNxQruh8kzW9kzZ3LH2NnupBPjvcQLM03ibb5uALzfYdSHp6469JZ~Dh~QGf4~FthJwjY~3DZVFY6fsmvzdu5nwryYclVDgXeOnSfYkyUX3b7o3syZPvikk5qCduO1Hy2iFiREN-1-USBCcveGJqRD8Oyf9VGBFI1DQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Road Agent Russ Pearl told selectmen the transfer station’s cardboard baler is down after a leaking piston; the piston was removed and sent for rebuilding and the station is operating on one baler. He said the plastic baler shows wear and the town anticipates replacing at least one baler next year. Pearl said there is limited state grant money for recycling equipment and he will investigate options.

Pearl said a new dump truck required a warranty repair to a PTO hydraulic pump; the repair has been completed. He said crews spent a day moving roughly a year-and-a-half’s worth of leaves from beside the hopper to a back slope to tidy the transfer-station site and that crews did ditching work with an excavator.

Selectmen asked about equipment age; Pearl said the new used International truck entered service in October and is a 2019 model. He noted cold weather has required extra small repairs to equipment.

Ending: Pearl said he will look into grant opportunities to help replace worn recycling equipment and will report back to the board.","Road Agent Russ Pearl reported a leaking piston on the transfer station cardboard baler, a warranty repair on a dump truck, extensive leaf-pile relocation and routine ditching work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6371775,"Police chief reports officer recruitment, policy review and new cruiser arrival",97,64000,161000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac&start=64&end=161","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac/thumbnail_64000.jpg","/articles/6371775/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Police-chief-reports-officer-recruitment-policy-review-and-new-cruiser-arrival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371775-16d9f4657d448d520770b988aa190098/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=ZSRjovaeeyM1a8sFrnUVvA01FbLziDF0pUcTM8PsuFuHzlPPbHhfwm5vUy~2h0PUgOt2D9KR8CfgD4xsColFSdikHG5aL5HNkMJdTPXZd58ys6c2TXUJo979k4a-W2Cvzok7nEXzz5LpT37RpPDILNe1F57lZHmjPTxRA2XO8-siYadKYQkYVs64HZTe-l6duWtdG-skZu1qSAUoxo1GmsLfHF9VH0uIVlDXVKI2gfBZpARz0oZSIMWFMzdLm5kUVFP8aePGUyjARRgKnLC5uivDctwsz-5AvE-XeNWs9IT6yLg0YvGxlZuH695UsvrnNJ6tDidy-y9eloO23vcthw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief Flanders briefed the Board of Selectmen on personnel and policy matters, saying Officer Hart started the academy and Officer Merchant is slated to start on the 27th. The chief said he has begun an internal review of department policies with a goal to complete the review by the end of January and to compare the department’s policies with academy-provided templates in February.

Flanders reported the department took possession of a new cruiser and will begin outfitting it. He also said three officers are enrolled in a child-abuse-investigation class in Pittsfield (a buy-two-get-one-free arrangement), and that he has received no negative reports from the academy on the new recruit.

The chief invited questions from selectmen; none were raised at the meeting.","Police Chief Flanders reported staff training and recruitment updates, an internal policy review timed to align with academy guidance, and arrival of a new cruiser awaiting outfitting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6371779,"Loudoun fire chief outlines training burn, mutual aid use and dry-hydrant damage",320,386000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac&start=386&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac/thumbnail_386000.jpg","/articles/6371779/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Loudoun-fire-chief-outlines-training-burn-mutual-aid-use-and-dry-hydrant-damage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371779-82adba1cc931051fb3d64bf2427ebdde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=XQZPdmo0FzONfgzVYl1QTCg-6Gci2kucuS6slek25UznOmXNPZdrXpKRi5Gx1-Ky5P3Eni4X7dUpcFjvSIBwpHsFQIIb5n3Wxs8S8wQzmt2qmQjO6837VG~dyMbfypWA9FQmVWKVPMtVhBO3LEuk0Wwn-Rb3KJEoVS6no-wytx4-9XOUZu2Qaka-bmbNUECy3dg8dxuhdatdk~dbh6A~BaFOjBu~clfY~9bGWAvEIB20jCDSHwWrU1GqsjKXMstCYTtHS7HNXHTFUWdZFiF2L3raztfdLf5qnK~M0kGefP4pwmSECIKw-brj3qcHHZ4gX2~FSMXe2FmdYaErH5v5Fg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Blanchett told the Board of Selectmen that a multi-agency training burn is scheduled at Josiah Bartlett with about 14 agencies and roughly 50–60 firefighters expected to participate.

The department will close Josiah Bartlett Road between Route 106 and the entrance to Prime Storage for the duration of the exercise; Prime Storage customers are to use a southern entrance. The chief said the town will haul water from the Daniels Road Old Bridge area and set up an engine to pump river water for tanker refills. The chief said the town obtained variable message boards from Homeland Security to post on Route 106 and Josiah Bartlett at no cost.

Chief Blanchett said the department retrieved its tower after repairs and returned it to service but that the vehicle’s dash lights and gauges remain inoperative. The department received a $10,075 repair invoice for Ambulance 1 and thanked the Town of Epsom for loaning a second ambulance while Loudoun’s unit was under repair.

The chief reported damage to several dry-hydrant installations following freeze and thaw cycles that lifted ice and broke pipes; examples cited included Pine Ridge and the Freedom Hill Co-op dry-hydrants. He said the department plans to work with local contractors and a vendor called Grama State Fire Protection (transcript spelling) in spring to pump, inspect and repair affected dry hydrants.

Blanchett gave year-end statistics: the department ran 1,020 calls in 2024 (103 more than the previous year), requested mutual aid 148 times (37 more than last year) and received mutual aid 18 times more than the prior year. Overlapping calls (multiple incidents at once) increased to 21% of calls, up from 15% last year. He said daytime hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. are busiest, while many on-call staff are available later in the day.

The fire department also reported progress getting the town skating rink back into usable condition; roughly three-quarters of the rink was reported skateable at meeting time.

Ending: The chief said the department will reassess the training-burn plan if weather forecasts worsen and will coordinate police assistance for traffic control as needed.","Fire Chief reported a multi-agency training burn at Josiah Bartlett, said the fire tower returned to service after repairs, described damaged dry hydrants and provided yearly call statistics.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6371784,"Selectmen approve consent agenda, award annual-report contracts and write off $139.29",662,1214000,1876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac&start=1214&end=1876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149125-2e873cd9ed8b30946afa963985c72eac/thumbnail_1214000.jpg","/articles/6371784/Loudon/Merrimack-County/New-Hampshire/Selectmen-approve-consent-agenda-award-annual-report-contracts-and-write-off-13929","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371784-cb9f800d09dfbe85ef15d53696564ba6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150506&Signature=moZ5pduvxmVqAVMz3waq7Mb48LKU2z4tITIKpaR1ZNbTjnEzH6tUHH16ma3PM01iRnT-3C5S2wLcZctII4ViSzHXXtLD1Sa5PXdDyQWDDzNG4RE-kA6C-l0crnZGAeUMfi9DcBtw3lMdtoC-z8~1SLMImRo60I0TGnSvXW28MXtc4NZnrbAOTw8TtPLnqiX9DWv5LCVkc46Zr3jS9Z7LzTKV0~FExG2j7IAOpXreFDlQh6SgyxZegIeA63GA0jbWFr7JamkpEvFsWE1Vnc2S9NJPV4uQBupSF~WyVRBSFCIgogbEIJEKQMLIq4mwVVU3OGVwgrQhmRXQ3fSmzUxeCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Loudoun Board of Selectmen approved routine administrative items Tuesday, voting to accept the consent agenda, award two contracts for the 2024 annual town report and approve a $139.29 write-off related to ambulance billing.

The actions were taken during the regular selectmen’s meeting at the Selectmen’s Office, where three selectmen present voted on each measure.

The board accepted the consent agenda by unanimous voice vote. Later in the meeting the board reviewed bids for the town’s 2024 annual report: the board awarded the layout contract to Debbie W K Graphics for $1,270.50 and the printing contract for 650 copies to Evans Printing for $3,097.15. Both contract awards carried on voice votes. The board also voted to write off $139.29 in an ambulance account (account number 23000832) after review by the town fire department and the collection vendor.

Board members discussed the value of the town’s collection and billing vendors during the write-off vote; selectmen noted the collection agency works on contingency and that the billing vendor recovers an average of about $200,000 in revenue annually for ambulance services. The selectmen said the town’s use of outside vendors freed department staff from time-consuming searches and typically produced better recovery than when the town handled collections internally.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Layout contract (Debbie W K Graphics): $1,270.50; approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Printing contract (Evans Printing): 650 copies, $3,097.15; approved (unanimous voice vote).
- Ambulance billing write-off: $139.29 (account 23000832); approved (unanimous voice vote).

Next steps: The awarded vendor contacts and the write-off will be reflected in the town’s records and the 2024 annual report production schedule.

Ending: The meeting record lists additional agenda items and public hearings scheduled in January, including a public hearing on the budget and a bond public hearing for a fire truck.","At a regular meeting, the Town of Loudoun Board of Selectmen approved the consent agenda, awarded layout and printing contracts for the 2024 annual report and approved a $139.29 write-off for ambulance billing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Selectmen hear early interest in raising veterans' tax credit; public commenter urges school-board engagement

Road agent reports equipment repairs, cardboard baler outage and leaf cleanup

Police chief reports officer recruitment, policy review and new cruiser arrival

Loudoun fire chief outlines training burn, mutual aid use and dry-hydrant damage

Selectmen approve consent agenda, award annual-report contracts and write off $139.29