The Sagadahoc County Commissioners awarded a contract of $ 179,700 for six years to a Davenport, Iowa company, for a records management system for the Registry of Deeds.

Appearing before the Commissioners on Tuesday, Aug. 12, Judith Stevens, Registrar of Deeds, cited the benefits to the county from the new system.

“We will be providing better customer service because the system makes information available in minutes after it is scanned and recorded,” she said. “The new system will also keep information secure and in one place.”

The six-year contract includes service from Fidlar Technologies that will keep both hardware and software updated so that it is current. When questioned by the commissioners, Stevens said that the transition to the new system, which is slated for October 20, should go smoothly.

In addition to the new system for the Registry of Deeds, County Commissioners also heard a report from the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Brett Strout reported that between September 8 and September 12, the Sheriff’s Office will install new mobile data devices and fire extinguishers in their cruisers. The cost for the equipment will come from the existing Sheriff’s Office budget.

Also announced was a planned roadblock on August 27, jointly executed by the Sagadahoc and Cumberland County Sheriff’s offices. The roadblock will take place along Route 1 and will stop all cars in search of any driver that might be impaired.

Robin Dayton, Deputy Administrator, briefed the Commissioners on Sagadahoc County’s progress toward inclusion in the Maine Department of Labor’s SHAPE Program. Under its Risk Leader Program, the Maine Municipal Association reviews accident and injury cases under workmen’s compensation to see how the county is performing. Sagadahoc County receives a credit from MMA for participating in the program which is a step toward inclusion in the SHAPE (Safety and Health Award for Public Employers) Program.

Maine’s Department of Labor offers the SHAPE Program, which recognizes employers in the public sector that have an outstanding safety and health management system. Sagadahoc County is working hard to maintain an outstanding record and may be one of the first counties in Maine to be accepted into SHAPE. Once a public sector employer has been accepted into SHAPE , they are exempt from programmed inspections.