Taking Control of Property Taxes Happens at the Ballot Box

Deficit of state education funding drives increases

By Ken Wells

ANDOVER – It never comes up at Town Meeting, or even at School budget meetings. Our best shot at controlling increases in local property taxes happens at the ballot box! It’s really important for voters to know where their legislative candidates stand on school funding, and then vote! Today, the main driver of local property […]

New Hampshire Constitution Demands “Fair and Proportional” Tax Rate

By Ken Wells

ANDOVER – First, it says in Part II, Article 5 that taxes must be “fair and proportional.” That means the tax rate (that is, percent of assessed value) paid by property owners must be equal across the state, regardless which town they live in. (For comparison, in 2018 the median state and local tax rate […]

Andover Town Administrator Gives Updates on Continued Progress

Many projects and improvements happening

By Scott Hilliard
Andover Town Administrator Gives Updates on Continued Progress

My fellow readers, this is an article of update on some of the happenings in town: Road grading and evaluation continues by Highway Supervisor Kevin Duval.  Recently hired employees of the Highway Department by the highway supervisor can be seen grading the roads. If we haven’t got to it yet, we will. Maple Street drainage […]

Conservation District Taking College Scholarship Applications

Merrimack County residents can apply now

Press release

The Merrimack County Conservation District is taking applications for its Stanley Grimes Conservation Scholarship, to be awarded June, 2024. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a resident in Merrimack County who has been accepted to a two- or four-year college/university (full time status) with the intent to pursue studies in the fields of agriculture, […]

Two Andover highway projects get “green lights”

Press release

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has formal approval for the complete replacement of two major state highway bridges in Andover. They are the Route 11 bridge near Dyer’s Crossing in East Andover, and the Route 4 bridge over the Blackwater River near the Andover/Salisbury town line. The November 7 meeting between the Bridge Commissioners […]

Kimberley Edelmann Thanks Andover Residents for their Kind Interactions

Reflects on positive changes implemented

By Kimberley Brown Edelmann

During the Select Board meeting of October 26, 2023, I provided two weeks written notice that I would be ending my employment with the Town. My last day working in the office was November 9. As I stated in the meeting, I enjoyed my time working for the residents of Andover. I had the opportunity […]

Andover Highway Department Garage Project Kicks Off

Breaking ground on a brighter future

By Dana Swenson
Andover Highway Department Garage Project Kicks Off

September 27 was a momentous occasion for the Town of Andover as local officials, community members, and construction teams gathered on a sunny afternoon to mark the official groundbreaking for the new Highway Department Garage. This groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes the start of a project that promises to enhance our town’s infrastructure and serve our community […]

New Highway Department Facility

By Kimberley Brown Edelmann

By the time The Beacon goes to print, groundbreaking at Andover’s new highway department facility will have taken place. This is a key milestone in a project the Town has discussed for years. The construction project was awarded to Construx, Inc., of Plymouth, for a contract price of $1,140,700. Selectman Dana Swenson is working with […]

Changing a Party Affiliation for the 2024 Presidential Primary

October 6 is the deadline

By Lee Wells

As I write this, the date for the New Hampshire Primary has not been set. However, a very important deadline has been set by the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office. October 6, 2023, is the last day for voters to change their party affiliation before the primary.  Please remember that when you go to […]