WEST STEWARTSTOWN – The new director of finance for Coos County grew up in Colebrook and has been a local business owner.
Coos Administrator Jennifer Fish announced this week that Carrie Klebe has been hired to fill the vacancy created when Fish moved from the position to the county's top administrative post.
Klebe was born in Colebrook, the daughter of Gaston "Jack" and Sandra Riendeau. She is a 1989 graduate of Colebrook Academy and has an associate degree in management from White Mountains Community College and a bachelor's degree in management with a concentration in finance from Granite State College.
Klebe was the managing owner of The Blossom Shop in Colebrook for nine year. She then worked for three years at Dartmouth Hitchcock Indian Stream. In 2002, Klebe obtained her real estate license and for several years registered the top regional sales in the area. For the past four years, she has been the manager/owners assistant at Northern Tire of Colebrook.
Klebe currently lives in Columbia with husband of 15 years, Danny.

BERLIN – The city council Monday night approved a resolution authorizing Water Works to accept a $1 million loan from U.S. Rural Development to study and make improvements to the water transmission line from Godrey Dam to the Ammonoosuc treatment plant.
Water Works Superintendent Roland Viens said the original pipeline was built in 1925 and upgraded sometime in the sixties. He said there is five miles of line constructed in 8-foot lengths that are cemented together so over the entire route there are over 3,000 joints. Viens said tree roots have created problems and the department will use the loan to fund a study on how to address the problem and do some of the worst sections.
Godfrey Dam impoundment on the Upper Ammonoosuc River is the city's prime source of drinking water. Half of the water line falls within the White Mountain National Forest and half within Jericho Mountain State Park.
Viens said the city currently uses about 700,000 gallons of water daily. But that figure is expected to increase significantly when the federal prison is at full capacity and the biomass plant comes on-line. He said the federal prison is expected to use up to 1.7 million a day by November.
For back-up protection, the city has a well near the industrial park. Viens said there is a two phase plan to upgrade that well and add a twin back-up well that together could provide the city with up to 3 million gallons of water a day.
Viens noted the city has spent $30 million on the water system since 1993. Over 25 miles of substandard small diameter water line has been replaced. He said there is $4.5 million left with six to seven miles of line identified for replacement in the near future.
Mayor Paul Grenier said the water system has come a long way. City Manager Patrick MacQueen noted both the water and sewer systems are funded by user fees and not through general property taxes.
Viens said water works crews will be doing the water line work for the Route 110 Phase II update for the N.H. Department of Transportation.
"We're really excited about that," he said.
In other business:
* Housing Coordinator Linda White presented the council with a list of 13 tax-deeded properties she recommended the city put out for auction by sealed bid. There will be conditions of sale mandating required improvements. The buyer must make the property habitable within 12 months.
Recognizing that some of the buildings do need substantial renovation, White recommended the city set minimum bids based on a percentage of the assessed value and the condition of the building. Her proposed minimum bids ranged from $5,415 for the property at 79 Hamlin Street to $14,080 for 621 Burgess Street.
Mayor Paul Grenier asked if a buyer could demolish the building and White said that option is allowed. Councilor Lucie Remillard made a motion to remove 180 Glen Avenue from the list because she said that property had been offered to abutters. The motion was approved and the council then approved putting the other properties out to bid. White said she believes it is in the city's best interest to put properties out to public bid to expand the potential buyer base, eliminate any legal challenge over the determination of abutter, and avoid any appearance of collusion.
Sealed bids are due in the city manager's office by 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. The city will hold two informational meetings on the auction on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m., both at the city hall auditorium. Tours of the properties will be held after the meetings. A list of the properties and minimum bids is available on the city's web page at www.berlinnh.gov.
• City Manager Patrick MacQueen reported the demolition of 554 Hillsboro Street (former Sport about Charlie building) is complete until spring when some final loaming and seeding will be done. Bids are due Feb. 14 for the demolition of the building at 115 Mason.

Correction
The date for the Dummer town and school meetings was incorrect in yesterday's paper. The correct date is March 12.