ATHOL – The towns of Athol and Phillipston are continuing to explore options for what to do with the Bates Powers Dam

The dam and reservoir behind it are owned by Athol, but situated in Phillipston and the structure has been deemed a “significant hazard potential” by the state Office of Dam Safety. In 2018, according to Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski, an article at a Special Town Meeting was put forth to dispose of the dam, the idea being that it could be a gift to Phillipston.

“However, there have been changes in boards, there have been members of the (Phillipston) Selectboard who live there, and different committees have looked at it,” said Suhoski at a meeting of the Selectboard on May 20. “Anyway, it’s been eight years.”

Suhsoki went on to explain that, “a couple of years ago,” Athol’s Public Works Department looked at taking advantage of state program that “removes impoundments to restore either historic waterways or restore cold water fisheries.”

Removal of the dam, said Suhoski, could help restore the stream that existed before the dam was built in 1846, and remove the town’s liability.

Athol Assistant Director of Public Works Paul Raskevitz had previously said that the Boston engineering firm of Fuss & O’Neill has estimated the cost of removing the dam at just over $1.7 million. It’s likely, he said, that the project could be funded through the state Department of Ecological Restoration.

Suhoski said the town will continue to pursue state grant opportunities as a means of mitigating any liability. He told the board the town in recent years has had to spend around $10,000 to control vegetation and hire an engineer for periodic inspections.

“And that’s just kind of minimal maintenance to kind of keep us in compliance,” he added. “So, this is something where we kind of need to get to an end point.”

“The Town of Athol is more than happy to give this (dam) to the people of Phillipston,” said Athol Selectboard Chair Rebecca Bialecki. “But we cannot give this to them until they accept it.”

She then asked if the dam and surrounding property could be sold to a private buyer. “You have the authority,” Suhoski replied. “You could instruct me to auction it or sell it, if that was preferred. I don’t think we have land outside the (reservoir). We’d have to do some more title work to determine that.”

Phillipston Chief Administrative Officer Adam Lamontagne told the Athol Daily News said that Phillipston’s Selectboard will take up the issue of the dam at its meeting on Wednesday, May 30. In January of this year, Phillipston’s Community Preservation Committee turned down a request from the board for between $250,000 and $750,000 in CPC funds for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the dam. Some officials and residents in Phillipston would like to acquire the dam for recreational purposes and as an additional source of water for firefighting.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.