Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset has inmates from other counties and the inmate count has reached 159. Sheriff Todd Brackett told Lincoln County Commissioners Aug. 17, he expects the jail to continue with a higher than expected occupancy rate. Lincoln and Sagadahoc inmates total 59, but agreements with three other counties have upped the total in recent months. Brackett explained 27 Oxford inmates are housed until that county’s new jail opens in September. Penobscot is in the midst of a jail overpopulation problem. Two Bridges has taken 31 Penobscot inmates to ease that burden.

Brackett explained Two Bridges recently accepted 10 more Penobscot inmates. In his explanation, Brackett reported the Penobscot jail is limited to 150, but currently had 157. “At one time, they had 202 which led to state regulators threatening their operating license. They probably wished we could’ve taken 25, so I expect to have Penobscot inmates for as long as we have space,” Brackett said.

Knox has 39 prisoners in Wiscasset. Brackett reported Knox County Jail is remodeling its ventilation system and had to move inmates to a temporary location. An agreement was reached recently between Knox County and Two Bridges Regional Jail where Knox is sending staff on a daily basis to assist with jail operations.

In other action, commissioners approved two requests by Brackett. He is seeking a temporary memorandum of understanding with the union. Brackett wants to hire senior law enforcement personnel at a higher pay grade than allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. The agreement sets the highest pay grade at six years for any new hire regardless of experience. “This is making it more difficult to hire experienced law enforcement personnel,” Brackett said. “I would like to seek union authorization to remove this restriction temporarily until the end of the year.”

Brackett explained the roster is short-staffed requiring the five full-time deputies to be on call two hours per morning during their four-day work week. Under the collective bargaining agreement, deputies don’t receive additional pay for being on call. Brackett explained other department personnel are required to be on call and receive additional pay. Previously, the sheriff’s department had no need for on-call deputies so this circumstance wasn’t written into past contracts. Commissioners approved Brackett’s request to pay deputies a $250 stipend. The stipend expires at year’s end.

Commissioners also approved a sheriff’s department request to seek a federal grant for crisis intervention training. The $150,000 grant would assist Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox and Waldo counties’ public safety workers in additional training. Brackett reported Lincoln County would serve as grant administrator.  “This is a 40-hour training program with a goal of putting together a team of specialists within the four counties. It will also broaden our work with mental health providers with Sweetser and Kennebec Behavioral  Health,” he said.

Commissioners approved renewing the sheriff’s department’s Netmotion contract for $2,917.22. Netmotion is a software program which operates the department’s social data units. Brackett also received approval to buy training and replacement taser cartridges for electronic control weapons. Commissioners approved $2,568 which will buy enough cartridges for two years, according to Brackett. Commissioners also renewed one-year animal control contracts with Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor.

County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens received approval to use another vendor for installing solar power to the Hunt Hill AM radio tower in Newcastle. The agency contracted with another vendor last year to install solar panels, batteries and controllers. “I cancelled the order after trying several times to get him to complete the order,” Stevens said.

Another emergency power supply is closer to completion. Commissioners authorized purchasing a battery power back-up system for Lincoln County Communications Center. The 64-battery system will provide an uninterupted supply of power, according to County Administrator Carrie Kipfer. The emergency back-up system costs $3,416.

Kipfer told commissioners about a new state Emergency Medical Services mandate requiring coronavirus immunization for health care workers by Sept. 17. The mandate includes health care workers, dentists, EMS personnel and some emergency management dispatchers.

Lincoln County has 12 dispatchers and two supervisors who answer 911 emergency medical calls. Kipfer reported 11 were vaccinated. On Aug. 17, the county courthouse began requiring everyone to wear masks due to rising cases of the Delta variant.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7.