Flea market proposed for train depot lot

Town resident Bill Grimes approached the Town of Bath Council at the Tuesday evening, January 17 meeting and proposed a weekend flea market in the lot behind the train depot.

Grimes said he would like to rent the lot to be used for spots for yard sales, crafts and a concession stand. The proposed flea market would run on weekends from March through October.

He listed the benefits of the flea market as providing monthly revenue in the form of rent to the town and employing several young people to help open and close the market. The market would be open weekends from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Grimes said he would be responsible for managing and maintaining the property.

Lot not town’s yet
“You know I have been in business all my life. The entrepreneurial spirit is one that is close to my heart.

Any plans, I think, that come down the road towards us to help improve an area should absolutely be considered,” Mayor Susan Webster said.

Although CSX Corporation has given the town a letter of intent to cede the lot behind the train depot to the town, it has not happened yet, she said.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has not issued its final report on whether CSX’s cleanup of the site is adequate. Other legal issues remain to be addressed, she said.

Currently, the town is in the process of having the state do an appraisal of the property. Another issue is the town wants to use the property as matching funds needed for the $304,000 grant recently received to complete the rehabilitation of the train depot.

In order to use the value of the property as a match, the town cannot take possession of the property until after receiving a notice to proceed from the state on the grant.

Webster said it would be some time before the lot is available and the council has not discussed how the lot should be used.

“A lot of ideas have been thrown out and as far as I am concerned, this is as good as any I have heard. I appreciate anybody stepping forward in these hard times to put forth an effort in business,” Webster said.

Webster asked Grimes to keep in touch with the council. The council will consider uses of the property once the town takes possession, she said.