Commissioners are seeking a 6% recycling services increase from five organizations outside Lincoln County. For several years, Lincoln County Recycling has served Warren, Windsor, Pittston and Georgetown – and Tri-County Solid Waste Management which includes members Union, Somerville, Liberty, Appleton and Washington. 

Lincoln County Recycling collects and bales recyclables from its clients. Lincoln County calculates a fee based on the number of trips per month, truck fuel consumption, time, capital costs and administrative work. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported due to COVID-19 the rate hasn’t changed for the past two years. But now, she has proposed an increase. “It is a hard number to calculate. Trips were down last year due to COVID. We have a couple of brand new trucks and increasing recycling costs.”

Commissioners also authorized paying Ransom Consulting of Portland $5,366.25 for a Brownfield assessment on Westport Island. Ransom has provided a geologist, GIS (geographic information system) specialist and a project engineer for work completed in December. 

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission received a grant in 2018 to conduct environmental assessments on vacant and under-used commercial and industrial land. Westport Island requested the commission assess a two-acre property, now privately owned, the town dump’s former location. The commission hired Ransom which recently completed the project’s first phase and is now planning for the second, according to LCRPC Executive Director Mary Ellen Barnes. 

Lincoln County is reimbursed by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the grant terms. 

Three employees submitted their resignations, but one will remain with the county. Ben Cook resigned as a 911 emergency dispatcher. He told county officials the job was not compatible with his family life. He resigned from that job, but will take another working at Lincoln County Recycling. Bookkeeper Edythe Dereham is retiring effective March 2. And Strategic Project Manager Sandy Gilbreath is leaving her job at LCRPC. She is moving to Arundel, and will be Kennebunk Land Trust’s executive director. 

The meeting ended after commissioners returned from an executive session discussing labor contracts. Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 1 in the county courthouse.