CANTON — Lake Anasagunticook Dam Advisory Committee Chairman Malcolm Ray told committee members Monday night that the state Department of Environmental Protection has accepted the permit application says it’s complete. A decision on the permit is due June 8.

Ray, a consulting engineer with offices in Canton, will ask the engineering firm doing the dam design to proceed with developing plans and specifications so that the project can go out for bids on June 9. This will allow construction to start in early July.

Ray also shared plans for a pedestrian and snowmobile bridge to be built on the existing piers that are incorporated into the temporary dam. The wood frame structure will be 6 feet wide to permit snowmobiles to cross but to block full-size vehicles.

The bridge will be assembled by local volunteers. The material will cost about $18,000 cut, drilled and delivered to the site, Ray said.

Judy Hamilton, the Hartford representative to the committee, said that the local snowmobile club can probably obtain a grant and raise funds to help pay for the bridge.

The bridge and boat ramp, while not part of the original dam project, add to the overall value of the project to the town.

Ray said that some of the land obtained through eminent domain will not be needed for the planned project. Canton Selectman Scotty Kilbreth, who is also a member of the Dam Committee, said that at last Saturday’s annual town meeting the Canton voters directed the selectmen to work to dispose of unneeded town property.

He indicated voters should decide whether to develop the land into a park or to sell it. Committee member Polly Bussiere suggested that the surplus land could be used to bring new businesses to the center of town. Ray said that since the surplus property did not conform to local ordinances, the town would need to sell it with assurance that it could be developed. Ray said that the town needs to get that property back on the tax rolls.

“Those lots now generate zero income,” he said.

Kilbreth assured Hamilton that any proceeds from the sale of surplus property would go to reduce the debt for the dam.

The next meeting of the dam committee will be March 28.