The Lincoln County Commissioners on Tuesday approved this year’s court security contract for $190,000, which Sheriff Todd Brackett said was about 2.5 percent more last year. The contract will be for two years, and is retroactive to July 1.

The commissioners also accepted a possible transfer of forfeited assets stemming from a drug case, totaling $577.60, and approved equipment for two sheriff’s cruisers, totaling $9,181.47. Brackett received approval to hire Candace Wall of Bristol and Jeremy Collins of Newcastle as part-time animal control officers, pending background checks.

Concern about Monhegan Island’s radio coverage continues, according to County Administrator Carrie Kipfer, and the communications department continues to evaluate whether equipment the county owns can be used to shore up the aging system on the island. A new mobile dispatch console has been purchased for the emergency management department’s mobile unit, which is a van. The console would allow communications to answer calls from the van or elsewhere if there was a power outage or need for an alternative location.

Supervisor Kathy Blagdon is the 2017 public safety communication officer of the year for the Atlantic Chapter, Kipfer announced. Blagdon will be honored at a conference in Rockport at the end of October.

The emergency management department obtained final approval for Project Lifesaver at a cost of $3,950. Project Lifesaver provides small transmitters for people at risk of wandering – elderly people with dementia, children with autism, or others. The transmitter provides a signal to a unit the EMA has in its office, and is switched on when a person goes missing, making it much easier and faster to find the person. The materials – including two transmitters, although more could be purchased if needed – come with training for first responders.

EMA transferred a defibrillator it isn’t using to Two Bridges Regional Jail, under a memorandum of understanding. The jail’s machine had malfunctioned.

Christine Poland, human resources coordinator, has resigned, Kipfer announced. Kipfer is seeking a replacement quickly, because the position also works with the jail, which is working through several new hire situations. 

The county received an award for safe driving, and a check from the risk pool for $2,500.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I - Maine, sent an award to the county for its participation in the Spirit of America Award ceremony. The county had “gold distinction” for its county-wide ceremonies.

The county’s health care system is changing some of its co-pays, Kipfer said, although new rates have not yet been announced. Most of the co-pay increases involve pharmaceutical co-pays and doctor visit co-pays, with increases in out of pocket expenses for employees, she said.