Last fall, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission partnered with Bowdoin College, Maine Sea Grant, and Maine Blue Sky Planning Solutions to create their own “Social Resilience Project.” This is an exercise designed to strengthen connections between emergency management, conservation, social services, and municipal sectors to better prepare, respond and recover from storms and serve residents vulnerable to their aftermath.

On March 5, LCRPC Executive Director Emily Rabbe told county commissioners the project changed focus from studying a hypothetical storm to a couple recent real- life weather events. This winter provided prime examples in real-time for the project. “We are now using the mid-December and duo of January storms. We’re using those as our scenario exercise to assess what went well, what could’ve gone better as well as where different sectors of our community could’ve come together to play a role. Whether it’s EMA partnering with a conservation organization to clear trails or driveways, or social service agencies connecting with health care facilities.”

The project is also experiencing another significant change. Funding was originally available for a two-year study, but now, it is only funded through December. A new funding source may be available for a second year. Rabbe requested permission to apply for two additional grants to fund a second year. 

One is a Maine’s Coastal Communities Grant funded by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. The second is a federal Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “MEMA (Maine) told us the FEMA grant would be a good fit, and looking at the Coastal Communities Grant, we also think it would be a decent fit,” Rabbe said.

Commissioners voted, 2-0, to allow LCRPC to seek both grants which have application deadlines at month’s end.

In other action, commissioners approved matching ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) grants for two broadband projects. Newcastle is receiving a matching $60,000 grant, and South Bristol is receiving a matching $80,000 grant.

Commissioners authorized a $5,850 payment for indexing records of previously scanned registry of deeds documents between 1761 and 1953. Commissioners tentatively approved awarding the courthouse painting contract to TD&H Painting in Damariscotta. TD&H was one of two companies who submitted bids. The winning bid was $18,235 to paint the courthouse cupola and repair any damaged trim. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer will check references prior to officially awarding the contract.

Commissioners approved extending the Department of Corrections lease  at the “old jail’ in the sheriff’s building. The previous lease was for two years, but the DOC requested to extend it to four due to a “significant fee increase.” The lease increases from  $10.75 per square foot to $14.50 per square foot. “They asked to hold the rate for four years instead of two, and I think, this is a good agreement for us,” Kipfer said. 

The commissioners adjourned after an executive session discussing real property. Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 in the courthouse.