Category: News

June 4, 2017

MacQuinn lands school paving jobs

MacQuinn paving Mount Desert Island High School parking lot

From the ‘News’ pages of the

By Dick Broom

BAR HARBOR — With a low bid of $592,542, Harold MacQuinn Inc. has won the contract to repave parking lots at Mount Desert Island High School and renovate the area around the gym entrance this summer.

Hedefine Engineering, which designed the project and handled the bid process for the school, had estimated the cost could run as high as $750,000.

The high school trustees voted May 25 to accept MacQuinn’s bid.

The project includes paving the large front and rear parking lots and an area behind the school building. A “cutout” for buses will be created in front of the gym, and there will be what Principal Matt Haney described as “cosmetic upgrades” around the gym entrance.

The high school trustees voted in April to authorize Superintendent Marc Gousse to borrow up to $1 million for the paving project and, if needed, to help pay for replacing leaky walls and windows in one wing of the school.

E.L. Shea Builders will do the walls and windows project this summer.

Gousse said last week that, even though the trustees have enough money in their budget for the $587,000 walls and windows project and the paving work will cost significantly less than anticipated, he plans to borrow the entire $1 million authorized by the trustees.

“The residual will be used to pay down debt,” he said, explaining that interest rates are currently quite low. The trustees in April accepted First National Bank’s offer of a 10-year fixed rate of 2.15 percent on a $1 million loan.

“Having access to those funds allows us to pay down debts we have with higher rates,” Gousse said.

August 2, 2007

Contractors honor Ron MacQuinn

From the ‘News’ pages of the

BAR HARBOR—Associated Constructors of Maine (ACM) awarded its 2007 Major Achievements in Construction Award to Ronald MacQuinn, president of Harold MacQuinn, Inc., a local contracting company. The award was presented at ACM’s annual summer outing, held last weekend at the Harborside Inn.

“Ronnie” MacQuinn became president of the company in the late 1970s, after founder Harold MacQuinn’s retirement, and worked on every significant project the firm undertook, including moving Acadia National Park’s Eagle Lake bridge. That job involved splitting the bridge in two pieces lengthwise and sliding it sideways 15 feet, and was completed without cracking a mortar joint or single stone. MacQuinn’s recent work in the park includes helping rehabilitate its famous carriage trails and 17 stone bridges.

The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the construction industry and unselfishly contributed time, energy and talent to the industry and ACM, according to officials at the organization.

ACM of American is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States, representing more than 35,000 firms. The Maine chapter, established in 1951, represents the interests of more than 275 construction-related businesses in the state.

“Under Ron’s leadership, Harold MacQuinn, Inc. has continued to live up to its reputation as a local heavy-civil contractor with an eye for quality, service and versatility,” said ACM vice president Loren Clarke in presenting the award. He said that in Hancock County, the company’s name is synonymous with quality workmanship and innovation.

Mr. MacQuinn, who is also active in numerous civic projects and charitable organizations, is the 32nd recipient of the award. Past recipients include industry leaders in Maine, ACM officials reported, including Ival “Bud” Cianchette, Herbert E. Sargent, Al Bancroft, Bob Desjardins, Jack Kelly, Chuck Cianchette, John Bridge, and last year’s winner, Don Starr.

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