A three-year study monitoring Midcoast traffic patterns begins this fall with a focus on alleviating Route One congestion. On Sept. 3, Executive Director Emily Rabbe announced Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission is part of the effort. The commission is working with Midcoast Council of Governments, Maine Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation in the study.

Land Use and Transportation Planner Curtis Brown will attend a U.S. Department of Transportation conference on Oct. 10-11 in Washington, D.C. hearing federal plans regarding the upcoming study. Commissioners approved sending Brown to the conference during the Tuesday, Sept. 3 meeting.

According to Rabbe, the proposed plan would study traffic from Brunswick to Belfast. The project is funded as part of the federal government’s “Thriving Communities” program. Funding would provide LCRPC, MCCOG and MaineDOT with technical assistance. The project is divided into three phases beginning with assessment, then strategies and ending with solutions. “I’m not saying we’re going to solve the Wiscasset Route One problem, but there are ways to alleviate it,” she said. “One way is with a public transportation system which would hopefully reduce the number of vehicles on the road.”

In other action, commissioners approved awarding Wiscasset a $2,500 Assistance with Specific Know-how (ASK) grant for an economic analysis of the recreation center. Wiscasset is partnering with the University of Maine to perform an economic assessment of the recreation center’s community impact. The town is also contributing $2,500 to the study. Rabbe reported a group of students led by an economics professor will begin the survey in a couple weeks with a completion date by mid-October. 

Commissioners approved purchasing a $12,019 backup generator for the Communcation Center’s Jefferson tower site. Director Tara Doe reported parts for the current backup are no longer available. “A battery pack serves as the initial backup to the regular generator, but if the power is out for more than 24 hours emergency radio communication becomes difficult,” Doe said. 

Commissioners also approved purchasing a new recycling center fire alarm system. The new system will consolidate alarm systems between two buildings and handle monitoring and maintenance for each. The county will pay Guardian Systems (Portland) of Maine $4,549 for the upgraded system. 

Commissioners authorized an agreement between the sheriff’s department and Kieve/Wavus to host the department’s alternate sentencing program. The sheriff’s department conducts two programs each year which are designed to provide criminal offenders a better option than jail. In mid-October, 30 participants are expected to attend either a two- or seven-day program at the Wavus/Kieve camp in Jefferson. Participants perform community service and receive counseling in an effort to guide them away from future criminal activity.

The sheriff’s department received authorization to use federal Byrne Grant Knox Box funds to purchase Key Defender Systems. Sheriff Todd Brackett told commissioners federal funds are part of a pilot program designed for enhanced school protection. The Bryne Grant is $11,869 for creating lock boxes in local schools storing emergency keys. The pilot program would begin with lock boxes for selected schools in the Alternative Organizational Structure 93 system. “We will be working with the Damariscotta Police Department initially,” Brackett said. “The lock boxes will be located in a strategic location. This would allow public safety agencies access to schools during emergencies.”

Brackett expects to expand the program to all Lincoln County schools in the future. 

Kipfer confirmed to the Boothbay Register that Maury Prentiss was no longer the county Emergency Management Agency director. His last day was Aug. 9, and Kipfer said “he did not resign.” She reported Deputy Director Emily Huber will serve as an interim director. Commissioners ended their meeting with an executive session discussing a personnel matter. 

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 in the courthouse.