Good Samaritan replaces town's missing sand

BARKHAMSTED — After learning that sand had been stolen from the Barkhamsted town garage, Mike Mulville, owner of MF Mulville Sand and Gravel in North Canaan, picked up the phone and placed a call to First Selectman Don Stein to see how he could help. By the time he hung up, Mulville had decided to donate 25 tons of sand to the town, which he delivered a short time later.

Having been a victim of an icy walkway himself this winter, Mulville said he wanted to extend a hand to the “people who were helping the people� of Barkhamsted.

Barkhamsted, like New Hartford, maintains an area at the town garage where residents can pick up a bucket or two of sand from time to time to treat icy walkways and driveways. However, town officials have noticed recently that nonresidents and commercial vehicles have been helping themselves to the sand as well, depleting the storage pile for Barkhamsted taxpayers.

While Stein would not speculate as to who is taking the town’s sand, he did say that residents of Winsted, New Hartford and Barkhamsted use the landfill adjacent to the town garage. Much controversy in recent weeks has surrounded Winsted town officials’ decision to no longer supply residents with free salt and sand due to budget constraints.

Stein said allowing his residents to take a couple of buckets of sand is a small service that doesn’t cost much.

At a recent selectmen’s meeting, it was mentioned that the sand piles were being depleted. After word got out to the press, the first selectman received the phone call from Mulville, a Norfolk resident who wanted to help.

“It was in the paper how they had sand down there in Barkhamsted, but the people going to the landfill were helping themselves to it. The three selectmen decided to keep putting sand out even though it was being stolen,� said Mulville. “I thought it was really decent of these three men to not let the taxpayers suffer. I said, ‘I have sand on hand and I can help you people out.’�

Mulville, now in his 70s, said he fell on an icy sidewalk this winter and didn’t want to see someone else get hurt. He said he knows many Barkhamsted residents and felt it was only right to help where help was needed and was impressed that the selectmen in Barkhamsted were continuing to help their residents.

Stein said he was pleasantly surprised that someone who doesn’t even live in town was willing to help residents in Barkhamsted.

“I just think in the world we live today it’s nice to see someone who’s a good Samaritan trying to help people in a nearby town,� he said.

Mulville said he was just happy to help.

“I was glad to help them get a good load of sand. That’s all I meant to do.� Mulville delivered 20 yards, or 25 tons, of sand to Barkhamsted last week and said he will keep in close contact with Stein to make sure the town has enough sand to get through the winter.

According to Mulville, sand currently goes for about $14 per yard. Adding in delivery, the gift to Barkhamsted may be valued at as much as $400.

As for the sand swipers, Stein said resident troopers are keeping a close eye on the town garage and will continue to monitor who enters the area for sand. New signs have also been posted noting that the sand is for Barkhamsted residents only.

“I think the general sense is that if they catch someone, there are some legal remedies. We want to make sure the sand doesn’t disappear,� said Stein.