OTISFIELD — Voters at the annual town meeting June 25 will be asked to approve $250,000 to repair the Pleasant Lake Dam in Casco.

At their meeting Wednesday, selectmen approved a contractor’s bid for the work and the town’s share of the cost.  

Three bids were provided, with the lowest by T-Buck Construction of Auburn at $421,639. Selectman Rick Micklon said Casco selectmen approved the bid Tuesday night and the town’s share of $250,000.

Casco voters must approve the money at their June 15 town meeting.

Timeline for the repairs is early September through late November.

Casco and Otisfield selectmen received a report from the Maine Emergency Management Agency in 2014 that said there is significant leakage and structural deterioration at the dam. The towns face significant fines from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection if the dam fails.

Located beside Route 121, it was built in 1850 and repaired in 1980 and 1992. It controls the water level in the 4-mile-long lake, which lies in both towns. The lake has private camps, cottages and homes along it, as well as the Seeds of Peace International Camp on the western shore and Camp Arcadia for Girls on the eastern shore, both in Otisfield.

The towns took over ownership of the dam from Hancock Lumber in 1994. 

In other business, the board approved an abatement of less than $300 for resident Fred Dyer, after discussing an error in his tax bills. The abatement was for this year’s bill.

Administrative Assistant Anne Pastore said Dyer had concerns that he had been paying taxes on 80 acres of land for 12 years when he only had 47 acres.

Selectmen discussed why Dyer had not brought this to the town’s attention sooner and the possibility that the town may have to look into what the law is regarding crediting portions of prior bills, in case Dyer decides to take legal action. Dyer was not in attendance.

Finance Committee Chairmen Quentin Henderson expressed concerns about a bond to pay for new bleachers at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School football field in Norway.

“The costs of the bleachers are figured to be $225,000 for the home side and $65,000 for the visitors’ side,” Henderson said. He said he felt taxpayers were not informed of the bond and the cost.

Pastore said the Maine Department of Transportation will pave a section of Bolsters Mills Road and traffic could be disrupted for four days. No exact timeline was given.

Selectmen also discussed a request for a 99-year lease on a Heniger Park property after the deadline had passed. Pastore said that during a telephone conversation, the out-of-state owner admitted she had ample opportunity to take care of this when the leases were originally offered and did nothing. The board denied her request.

The board also:

* Approved a permit for a Central Maine Power pole for a residence on Loop Road;

* Approved an estimate of $1,800 from Maine Survey Consultants in Harrison to survey the area surrounding Saturday Pond Dam to get a clear understanding of property lines before possible future repairs;

* Announced that Joe Vaillancourt decided not to seek re-election to the SAD 17 board of directors after 24 years of service;

* Announced that flags at Merrill and Elmwood cemeteries had been taken down, broken and discarded over the cemetery walls; they were properly destroyed.

* Announced that ATV clubs were given approval to put up trail signs now that trails had been approved by the state.

* Discussed a request by Jennifer Whitman of Maine Adventure Relay to use Cove Road for a handoff for the relay in September. Micklon mentioned using the Community Hall to provide restrooms and to have a town group hold a fundraiser and sell refreshments.