Lincoln County Commissioners on Jan. 7 accepted $11,240 from the federal Department of Justice’s State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), which covers correctional officer salary costs for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law.

Some of those funds will be used to buy three GPS monitors for people who require ankle monitors to remain out of jail, and three alcohol monitors. The cost of the six monitors is $5,700. The Sheriff’s Office will move to Secures Technologies, which will handle the monitoring for a little more than a dollar per day. If more are needed, LCSO can rent more for $3.20 per day for the GPS monitors and $4 per day for the alcohol monitors. Both prices are less than what LCSO now pays. Chief Deputy Rand Maker said the new company doesn’t charge the fees the old one had been charging. He said his goal is eventually to buy most of the monitors the sheriff’s office needs, saving money in the long run.

Commissioners approved a $36,386 purchase order for a 2020 Ford Explorer SUV, the first hybrid vehicle in the LCSO fleet. Maker said the S.O. will track how much that vehicle saves in fuel costs and, if the savings are strong enough, LCSO may buy more in years to come.

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission will host free tax preparation for households earning less than $56,000. Midcoast CA$H will provide the services. To schedule an appointment, call (207) 295-6340.

Administrator Carrie Kipfer said the county renewed the IT contract with Burgess Technology.  One of the benefits of the new contract is that surplus hours from last year’s will be rolled over into this year’s. Kipfer announced job description updates for bookkeeper in the Finance Department and Deputy Registrar in the Registry of Deeds office.

Kipfer said Charles Ledbetter has stepped down as one of Lincoln County’s representatives on Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority. His term ended Dec. 31. A replacement is being sought.