By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Although the Moose Pond dam in Denmark is in “fair condition,” Town Manager Bert Kendall hoped to address some issues before they become a problem.

Following a recommendation to look at rehab work every 10 to 15 years, Kendall presented to Bridgton selectmen last week with a recent dam assessment report along with an estimated price sheet to tackle recommended work.

Kendall and Denmark selectmen hoped to do the project this year.

Bridgton selectmen told Kendall try again next year.

“I don’t see Bridgton jumping on the bandwagon,” Bridgton Selectboard chairman Lee Eastman said. Eastman pointed out that the board was two-thirds into the budget process, and could be completed by week’s end. “I don’t see it happening this year for us.”

Denmark paid $7,900 for the initial engineering assessment by Woodard & Curran Inc. of Portland of Moose Pond dam, but did not commit to “task two” ($9,900) until having conversations with Bridgton selectmen.

Task 1 included two visits by engineers to assess the dam (including when pond water level was lowered) and develop repair strategy recommendations. Task 2 included assisting with bid packages, serve as a resource to contractors working on the dam, and site inspections. Total engineering fees: $17,800.

In an October 2019 memo, James Sturgis, structural discipline leader for Woodard & Curran Inc. of Portland, wrote, “Based on my initial observations, I believe the town’s decision to repair the dam at this time is a sound one.”

“As this is a harsh environment for concrete, steel and coatings with constant moisture and freeze-thaw exposure, it should be expected that repairs will need to be repeated every 10 to 15 years to properly maintain the dam structure,” Woodard & Curran’s assessment report stated.

Woodard & Curran, along with contractor Knowles Industrial of Gorham, worked on dam repairs in 2004, and have been selected to address current rehab issues.

“They’ve done high quality work,” Kendall said of Knowles Industrial.

The dam was originally built in 1792 with a major reconstruction in 1941, which included the concrete components. It is 75-feet wide with a crest height of 12 feet. The 2004 repairs included: upgrading deteriorated concrete walls, supports and slabs; painting all exposed steel; and replacing a heavily deteriorated concrete walkway with a fiberglass grated walkway over the West Spillway.

New repairs needed include: repairs to the four concrete buttress walls, the concrete walkway over the Center Spillway, coating of all accessible painted steel components, replacement of the wood stop logs within the East Spillway and other improvements such as replacement of failing concrete letter sign on the dam’s face (a new prefabricated sign is recommended).

“Underwater repairs do not appear to be necessary and have not been included in these recommendations,” the report said. However, it was noted that an underwater inspection of the dam was not performed because it “was beyond the scope of this assessment.”

Woodard & Curran noted, “The dam was found to be in fair condition for its age and the structural integrity appears to be intact. However, there are several areas that require prompt and timely attention to correct the deficiencies identified before they develop into more serious structural concerns.”

Kendall outlined some of the costs (major ones listed):

• Installation of a new sign on the dam. If a new sign weighs less than 200 pounds, Knowles can install it for $950. If the sign exceeds 200 pounds, a boom truck would be needed, pushing the cost to $1,500. Officials went with the less expensive option.

• Prep and paint all exposed steel, $28,500

• Repair center slab over Center Spillway, $6,500

• Repair center slab south vertical face, $11,100

• Repair concrete under center slab, $4,500

• Replace East Spillway stop logs (poor condition, evidence of rot and considerable seepage), $12,800

• Repairs to West Spillway, $16,275

• Buttress walls downstream (fair condition, cracks), $8,475, $8,600 and $17,750

Total cost: $134,815 plus $17,800 for engineering totaling $152,615. Adding contingency, the final estimated price tag is between $165,000 to $170,000 range.

So, Denmark will likely wait

When Town Manager Bert Kendall hustled back to Denmark for his board of selectmen’s meeting, he was asked by Chairman Luke Allocco, “So how did your meeting go with Bridgton?”

While Kendall said the meeting was “cordial,” he added, it did not go well in terms of funding the repair project this coming year.

“Their question was why we came so late? I sent them information a couple of months ago,” Kendall said. “They’re about done with the budget process (likely in another week) and don’t have that kind of money (to do the project this year).”

Having found out that a half of a mile of frontage is in Sweden, Kendall said there was a discussion on how to fairly assess each town’s percentage in paying for dam repair costs. Kendall said percentage could be based on frontage, assessed value or volume.

If the shorefront factor was used (as in the past), Denmark’s share of the cost would be 52%, Bridgton at 40% and Sweden at 8%. Using this measure and based on a repair package of $175,000 (including contingency), the price for each town would be: $91,000 for Denmark; $70,000 for Bridgton; and $14,000 for Sweden.

Kendall has spoken to Sweden’s administrative assistant, and will discuss the matter with the board of selectmen chairman. Kendall is awaiting one final price on the project, but will be able to finalize the price tag soon. He termed projected costs as “reasonable.”

Kendall is also working on a standard agreement between the three towns to address future repairs. There will be more discussion regarding how to ultimately factor cost percentages. Through research, officials found that Denmark and Bridgton agreed to share dam repair costs in 1987, but there was no “formal” agreement on record.

The last time the dam was worked on was September 2004.

In regards to footage on Moose Pond, United States Department of Agriculture’s District Conservationist Kenneth Warren provided these measurements in a letter to Bridgton in 1976: Sweden 8,500 feet (8.3%); Bridgton 37,000 feet (36.1%); Denmark 57,000 feet (55.6%).

Denmark Selectman Richard Snow and Allocco both agreed that a “middle ground” be reached in regards to establishing cost percentages and each town “should pay its fair share.”

Kendall wondered that if there were serious problems with the dam and work had to be done as soon as possible, “I believe we’d find a way to do it.” Denmark has budget committee meetings scheduled for March 17 and March 24 with final decisions likely coming by April 14.

Kendall noted that like Denmark, Bridgton’s annual town meeting is scheduled for June.

“It’s their town. They run it differently,” Kendall said of Bridgton.