Canton to discuss dam grant at special town meeting

CANTON — On Thursday evening at 6:00 residents will gather to discuss applying for a Community Development Block Grant to build a permanent dam and to approve the interlocal agreement with Hartford for dam maintenance after construction. A special town meeting will follow the hearing to vote on whether the town will approve getting a loan for the 25 percent match if the grant is approved and to approve the interlocal agreement.

The CDBG funds, if approved, would be for $500,000, and the latest figure from Kleinschmidt Engineering is for $654,579 for the construction of the dam on Whitney Brook, an outlet of Lake Anasagunticook. This would leave $154,579 for the towns to contribute. Some $25,000 dollars has already been raised for the project by the towns of Hartford and Canton. A major portion of Lake Anasagunticook is in Hartford. The Core Committee says the remaining $125,000 could be raised by other small grants, fundraisers, private donations and loans.

Amy Landry, economic development planner from Androscoggin Valley Council on Governments, was present Monday night at the Dam Core meeting to assist the group in understanding the grant process.

The interlocal agreement, which has already been approved by Hartford, spells out the rights and responsibilities for operating and maintaining the Lake Anasagunticook dam.

Canton Water District would inspect the dam daily and maintain water levels set by the Water Level Management Plan. It would report any damages to the Dam Core Committee and keep a written log of inspections, notifications and maintenance activities.

The Lake Anasagunticook dam committee will hold periodic meetings to discuss water levels, recommend future dam operation and management requirements, review and oversee implementation of the current water level management plan, prepare an annual budget for operation and maintenance of the dam and share costs and revenue at 50 percent between Hartford and Canton.

The hearing and special town meeting will be held in the Municipal Building.