The Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority is considering making a deal with Oxford County to house inmates.

Oxford County is licensed by the state to operate a 72-hour hold facility. The jail is not large enough, nor is it staffed, to handle inmates for a longer period of time. “We also don’t have a regular judge,” laughed Sheriff Wayne Gallant.

Oxford County had been relying on Cumberland County to handle longer-term inmates, but in July, Cumberland County announced that the $50 per night fee it had been charging Oxford County would increase to $108 per night. That cost would be greater than the county’s entire budget, Gallant said.

So on July 27, Gallant, Tim Turner, one of the county commissioners, and Scott Cole, the jail administrator, came to the Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority meeting to see if they could make a better deal with Two Bridges. After a short executive session, the Authority board directed a subcommittee composed of Administrator Mark Westrum, Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, and Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett, to enter into negotiations with Oxford County to house inmates at Two Bridges.