Alna moved two steps closer June 12 to a possible project with Tidewater Telecom to aid broadband access and internet speed: The two applied on deadline for a ConnectME Authority grant; and voters unanimously agreed to use cable franchise fees as the town’s match.

A joint effort to gather signatures from residents in the targeted, underserved areas fell short of the 85 percent needed to score best, according to Second Selectman Doug Baston. The survey garnered support from about 62 percent, he said.

“So it’s not as many as we could have,  but it’s all we could.” Baston, who has worked with Tidewater on the grant try, remained hopeful. Tidewater has won about 11 other ConnectME grants, he noted.

The town and the company seek $92,500 from ConnectME. Tidewater would put another $74,000 into the project and the town, $18,500. Voters approved the town’s share at the special town meeting at the fire station. The night’s other votes were also unanimous. One gave selectmen the OK to set property taxes after July 15, with 90 interest-free days to pay. Another passed after residents amended it with Ralph Hilton’s suggestion to finish the new town office with the sale money from the old one, and put any leftover money from the sale into the town building and maintenance account.

Deputy Town Clerk Linda Verney said 23 voters turned out.

As for the ConnectME application, ConnectME executive director Peggy Schaffer said June 13, it was one of seven infrastructure requests that came in by the June 12 deadline. Those requests totaled $925,375, Schaffer said in a phone interview. And five planning requests totaling $230,212 came in, she said.

The Authority has about $740,000 to give out this round, Schaffer said. The board is set to make its picks at 2 p.m. Friday, June 28 at the Public Utilities Commission in Hallowell. Meanwhile, Schaffer will help review and score applications.