OXFORD — With the new booms on the Thompson Lake Dam working well, the next step in maintaining the dam will be to remove the catwalk and trash rack.

The Board of Selectmen on Thursday authorized Town Manager Michael Chammings to put the project out to bid after a recommendation from the Thompson Lake Dam Committee to move forward.

Since taking over the Robinson Mill property last year, the town has had to address a log boom that was failing to stop debris, the decay of a pylon that held up the walkway and a rusting grate that needed frequent cleaning to keep water flowing properly.

The Dam Committee gave permission to have the catwalk and grating removed back in February, but Chammings said the town opted to wait and make sure the replacement booms were working properly.

The catwalk is in danger of falling down onto the dam, Chammings said.

The dam is at the outlet of Thompson Lake in Oxford and next to the vacant Robinson Mill. It regulates the water level in the 8-mile-long lake that covers parts of Oxford, Otisfield, Casco and Poland.

Aside from Chammings, the Dam Committee includes members representing the four towns.

Oxford took the mill property last year due to nonpayment of $244,920 in taxes over three years. Selectmen voted 3-2 to obtain the 7.5-acre site after owner John C. Robinson failed to make an $80,000 payment toward a $162,970.88 lien and keep the property out of automatic foreclosure.

The town has been working to make the property suitable for prospective buyers who might be interested in the lakeside mill building and dam.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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