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Mayo Mill Dam Review committee to hold public meeting early next month

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee is planning a public meeting for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Central Hall Commons to discuss the work done to date and update the public on its review of the redevelopment of the dam and hydrofacility.

“We are moving ahead with planning to do a public information meeting, that is Feb. 4,” Selectperson Steve Grammont of the dam committee said during a Dover-Foxcroft Select Board meeting on Monday, Jan. 13. He said the next evening the group will be going through materials to be presented in several weeks to show the current status of the site and what the group has been discussing.

Grammont said committee members unanimously voted not to pursue rehabilitation and restarting the mill hydro facility, based on the findings from an engineering study conducted by Kleinschmidt Associates of Pittsfield to examine the feasibility of this. The committee will later make its official recommendation to the select board.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MAYO MILL DAM — The Mayo Mill Dam on the Piscataquis River in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. The Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee has a public information meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Central Hall Commons.

Following last June’s vote to reject a referendum article concerning removal of the downtown Mayo Mill Dam on the Piscataquis River — indicating citizens were in favor of using tax money to fund studies, permitting, and repair costs for the structure — the Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee was formed to help determine the future of the site. By June 30 the town needs to make not only a decision on pursuing hydropower and a plan to carry this out, but also a plan for repairing the dam, making the structure safe, compliant with fish regulations, and more.

The Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee formally approved an engineering study proposal from Kleinschmidt Associates after the select board had authorized funding for the work during a Sept. 23 meeting. Kleinschmidt Associates bid was $19,200. The firm looked at previous studies and recalculated any potential for generating funds through hydropower.

While the financial implications are difficult to fully pin down at the present time because of variables such as the cost of repairs and length of repayment, the town could be faced with an $8-$10 million project.

The Mayo Mill Dam, acquired by Dover-Foxcroft in 2007, needs to be in compliance with all Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements. While Dover-Foxcroft will not be spending the money in the immediate future, information needs to be gathered to determine costs and how needed repairs would be funded such as through a bond.

FERC has jurisdiction over the dam because there are hydropower capabilities, but it has been non-operational for over a decade. It is a long process to have FERC relinquish oversight and this depends on whether there are hydropower capabilities or not and a plan is due to FERC by June 30.

The chances of restoring hydropower at the dam are remote due to a lack of economically viable options; the town has consulted with multiple engineers, turbine suppliers, and a private developer for years to try to identify a hydropower retrofit. When the Arnold Development Group of Kansas City, Missouri converted the former mill building into apartments and office space the consultants looked at restoring hydropower and had an application submitted to FERC about a half decade ago but did not pursue it further.

In other business, the board approved a consulting agreement with Charles McMahon of Newburgh for a study needed for a municipal EMS transportation license application with the state. McMahon will be paid a flat $2,000 fee.

Dover-Foxcroft is looking to provide local secondary EMS transport services through the fire department. 

Fire Chief Brian Gaudet said under state law another ambulance service cannot simply get a license if there is another provider in the area, with Northern Light Transportation and Emergency Care being the primary ambulance service. He said McMahon will look at everything, such as the call volume and location of incidents, and he will present to the state board on whether another ambulance service is needed.

Gaudet said Glenburn and Rockport both went through similar processes and each community was granted a license.

“We have to prove there is a need in order to change,” Select Chair Tom Lizotte said.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed and present the facts,” Gaudet said, saying those involved are optimistic a license will be awarded. He said McMahon will be starting soon to ideally get the Dover-Foxcroft request on the March agenda in Augusta.

“We are hoping to fill a gap,” Selectperson Joel Vail said. He said the town is not looking to take over ambulance service from Northern Light Health but to find a solution that would be best for everyone.

“We’re in the middle of budget preparing,” Lizotte said, saying outgoing Town Manager Jack Clukey is staying on and helping with the work on the 2025-26 finances. 

The public works, solid waste, and wastewater departments and board’s administrative committee all met the week before to discuss the 2026 fiscal year budget.

This year Dover-Foxcroft’s proportional share of the Piscataquis County tax bill is $715,505, a 7 percent increase from last year’s $667,359. This is based on a 2025 state valuation of $442,300,000, compared with $384,100,000 the year prior.

In his report Clukey said, “We are implementing the steps that go along with getting our warming and cooling centers available.” He said Communications Director/Project Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl led a volunteer training session for those willing to assist at the centers.

When asked, Brenenstuhl said more volunteers could still be used.

Clukey said Brenenstuhl submitted a grant application to the Resilience Partnership seeking $75,000 — with no match requirement — for upgrades to town spaces for warming and cooling centers. Another grant application to T-Mobile seeks $50,000 — also with no match requirement — for playground equipment at Kiwanis Park.

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