Franklin County commissioners Tuesday criticized Sugarloaf Mountain Corp. for failing to repay the county $152,224 owed by the ski resort from a canceled project to replace Caribou Pond Dam.

At issue is a grant awarded to Sugarloaf in 2020 to replace the Caribou Pond Dam in Mount Abram Township, an unorganized territory in northern Franklin County. It was aimed at improving Sugarloaf’s snowmaking ability and the environment for aquatic life and wildlife.

It was initially a $2.2 million project. Sugarloaf’s request from the county was for $500,000.

However, the project was dropped after it was determined the cost was too great for the benefits received, county Administrator Amy Bernard said previously. At that point, the county had granted Sugarloaf $221,771.

In December 2024, Sugarloaf repaid Franklin County $69,547 of the total, leaving $152,224.

Commissioner Chairman Bob Carlton said he and Bernard met with representatives of Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley last week and were told to have the county’s attorney contact the ski resort’s attorney.

“We didn’t sugarcoat it, we told them that this is taxpayers’ money and we need it,” Carlton said.

Once the attorneys meet, the county’s attorney will report back about Sugarloaf’s plan for repaying the money for commissioners to review, according to county employee Susan Pratt, who was filling in for Bernard on Tuesday. Pratt will take over as interim county administrator when Bernard leaves July 3.

Carlton also pointed out that a different set of commissioners, with Terry Brann, Charlie Webster and the late Clyde Barker, approved a grant for the project in 2020.

“We are just cleaning this up,” he said.

When the money comes, Commissioner Tom Saviello said, it should come in one check, not payments over time.

“My goal is, I want the money back,” Saviello said. “Sugarloaf should be embarrassed. … It is a business in this community that we rely on.”

Commission Vice Chairman Tom Skolfield agreed. “It shouldn’t be a matter of discussion and it should be paid back now,” he said.

The Sun Journal reached out to the ski resort Tuesday.

“Sugarloaf is actively working with Franklin County to resolve this matter, which remains a priority for our team,” Charli Sayward-Boehmer, communications manager for Sugarloaf, wrote in an email. “The agreement is currently under review by legal counsel on both sides, and we will proceed in accordance with their recommendation. We are committed to a timely resolution and to continuing our longstanding relationship with the county.”