Various items of business were discussed at the Blue Hill select board meeting on March 10, including a Toddy Pond dam update, a snow plow payment, posting town roads and bake sale request. The select board set a public hearing for Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. upstairs at the town hall to discuss the warrant for the upcoming town meeting and referenda.
Toddy Pond dam update
During public comment, a member of the public asked for an update on the Toddy Pond Dam situation. Select board member Scott Miller, who is also on the multi-town dam committee, said the towns of Blue Hill, Orland, Penobscot and Surry have been working with the Toddy Pond Association and Alamoosook Lake Association on the matter.
Miller said based on the information received from the dam owner, Bucksport Mill LLC, in late February, the dam committee estimates the annual operating costs of Toddy Pond Dam are $70,000 and the repairs needed on the dam would cost about $400,000.
The dam committee, Miller said, has been working with Rep. Nina Milliken and Rep. Steve Bishop to pass legislation at the state level that would allow a quasi-municipal authority to own and operate the dam. Miller said operational and repair costs would be split between the towns and waterfront property owners 50-50. The towns will each pay a percentage of that amount based on their number of Toddy Pond parcels.
Joining the potential Toddy Pond operating body and appropriating towns funds toward the dam are subject to public vote in each town. The state’s dam abandonment statute deadline is currently mid-October. Miller said the dam committee is talking with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to see if the s...
Toddy Pond dam update
During public comment, a member of the public asked for an update on the Toddy Pond Dam situation. Select board member Scott Miller, who is also on the multi-town dam committee, said the towns of Blue Hill, Orland, Penobscot and Surry have been working with the Toddy Pond Association and Alamoosook Lake Association on the matter.
Miller said based on the information received from the dam owner, Bucksport Mill LLC, in late February, the dam committee estimates the annual operating costs of Toddy Pond Dam are $70,000 and the repairs needed on the dam would cost about $400,000.
The dam committee, Miller said, has been working with Rep. Nina Milliken and Rep. Steve Bishop to pass legislation at the state level that would allow a quasi-municipal authority to own and operate the dam. Miller said operational and repair costs would be split between the towns and waterfront property owners 50-50. The towns will each pay a percentage of that amount based on their number of Toddy Pond parcels.
Joining the potential Toddy Pond operating body and appropriating towns funds toward the dam are subject to public vote in each town. The state’s dam abandonment statute deadline is currently mid-October. Miller said the dam committee is talking with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to see if the s...
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The Weekly Packet (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 13, 2025