With the legislation to authorize formation of a Toddy Pond Watershed Management District complete and the question and appropriation to be on Blue Hill’s November town meeting ballot, many people have asked what the cost would be for them personally–whether they own waterfront property on Toddy Pond or not.
The Watershed Management Districts
Under legislation passed earlier this year, voters in the four towns abutting Toddy Pond and Alamoosook Lake will vote in November on whether to form two Districts, the Toddy Pond Watershed Management District and the Alamoosook Lake Watershed Management District, and to appropriate taxpayer funds for the Districts’ first fiscal year.
Estimated Costs of Ownership
Everyone involved recognizes that most property owners and voters want to understand what the likely costs of assuming ownership of the dams creating those water bodies will be. To assist waterfront property owners and other town voters in understanding these costs, and putting them into perspective, volunteers have prepared two “Dam Ownership Cost Estimators” — one for the Towns of Blue Hill, Penobscot, and Surry and another for Orland. (Orland is more complicated because it has properties abutting both Toddy Pond and Alamoosook Lake.)
You can access the cost estimators here:
Before the Town vote…
There will be a public hearing on the referendum question scheduled during the second half of October. Watch for the announcement.