Mayo Mill Dams fate turns to referendum in Dover-Foxcroft [Video]

DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine (WABI) – Dover-Foxcroft is putting forth a referendum in June over what to do with a historic dam.

The Mayo Mill Dam was acquired by the town in 2007, and what was once a source of hydro power has been out of commission for over a decade. This led to the formation of a steering committee in 2022 to research the next steps and alternatives.

“The committee’s recommendation, looking at both the cost and where the money would come from, came down to dam removal,” explained Dover-Foxcroft Town Manager Jack Clukey. “Because to try to fix the dam and improve the fish passage, it was $7.5 million. That’s something that we can’t identify is fundable outside of the town, and so the concern is that would be a cost that would land with our taxpayers. Whereas the other alternative, the cost of actually removing the dam, that’s not cheap either, it’s $6 million, but …