Lincoln County commissioners has approved the purchase order for a 2019 Kenworth truck for the recycling center, for $83,039, and approved two vehicle buys for the Sheriff’s Department, including a new pickup from Newcastle Chrysler for $14,667 after a trade-in, and a new Police Interceptor cruiser from Quirk Chevrolet for $29,470. All of the buys were accounted for in this year’s budget.

The county will review options for electricity supply purchase for a one-year contract beginning in January, according to County Administrator Carrie Kipfer. The hope is to save some money. The suppliers other than the standard offer provided by Central Maine Power establish rates by observing energy usage at specific times known in advance. Less energy use during those times sets a lower rate than high energy use during those times. Kipfer said that although it could be inconvenient to make sure high-energy items – such as the recycling baler – are not on during the test period, it may end up saving the county a lot of money in electric rates overall.

The new Communications Director,  Thomas Nelson, made his first appearance at a commissioners’ meeting, to meet them. Hamilton Meserve and William Blodgett were there; Mary Trescot was still out for medical reasons.

Sheriff Todd Brackett provided a list of false alarms by town.  Boothbay’s 210 false alarms in 2017 were the most for any town the Sheriff’s Office served. Alna, at 16, had the fewest.

Brackett said Detective Jared Mitkus would be serving at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy beginning in January, for half of his week. The Sheriff’s Office will receive a stipend of $15,000, and discounts for recruits going to the academy. The Sheriff’s Office is participating in No-Shave November once again, with donations earmarked for Wreaths Across America. Several deputies will escort the wreaths to Washington, D.C. and to Arlington National Cemetery to decorate monuments and grave markers.

The Sheriff’s Office  received two Highway Safety Grants of $8,000 each, for impaired driving and speed enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office  also expects a similar grant for seat belt enforcement.

The Emergency Management Agency participated in Light the World in Teal to show support for Project Lifesaver and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The EMA will also take part in a tabletop exercise with Lincoln Health, simulating a live shooter emergency on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.

The county  received $1,170.35 in jail surcharge funds from fees and fines. The money will be used to offset jail transportation costs. The county also got  a $1,120 Maine Municipal Association safety grant for reflective safety vests for the Sheriff’s Office.