Since December, Wiscasset has negotiated with Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission about entering into a consulting contract. On Feb. 4, negotiations culminated with a deal as the county commissioners voted 2-0 to enter into an agreement. Under the contract, LCRPC will provide assistance in six planning projects. The contract calls for commission assistance to the town’s comprehensive planning committee’s work on the new comprehensive plan, working with municipal officials and committees developing a renewable energy plan, planning for certain town-owned properties’ reuse and projects, site planning for redevelopment options for the former Mason Station power plant, seeking project funding and grant writing, and general planning services on an as-requested basis.

LCRPC will receive $36,750 plus mileage. The contract runs from February 2021 to January 2022. Payments will be made in monthly installments. The agreement also calls for hiring an outside economic consultant for $5,000 to provide market, real estate and other economic research for the Mason Station project. LCRPC Executive Director Mary Ellen Barnes identified finding a use for the former Wiscasset Primary School building on Route 27 and using Environmental Protection Agency funds allocated through a Brownfield Grant for finding a practical use for  the Mason Station property as immediate priorities.

“This is a great opportunity for us to work with Wiscasset on these priorities,” Barnes said. “The town has been without a planner for a number of years, and we will assist the town manager and other officials on these specific planning projects.”

In other action, commissioners approved a new vehicle service contract for the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Todd Brackett told commissioners both bidders were “extremely close.” Quick Turn Auto Repair and Towing of Damariscotta submitted the lower bid for oil changes, tire rotation, and towing at $129 for all three services. Hillside Collision Center in Waldoboro bid $140. Brackett recommended continuing the service agreement with Hillside Collision due to six years of previous reliable service and collision work on county vehicles. “Collision work is not part of the bid package, but three or four times a year collision work requires vehicle service,” Brackett said. “I’m not sure we’d save the $11, if we had to tow a vehicle from Hillside ( for collision work) to Quick Turn (for vehicle service),” he said. 

Commissioners also approved Brackett’s recommendation for buying  a new police cruiser. The county received four bids, and authorized buying a 2021 Dodge Durango from Newcastle Chrysler, which bid $30,898. Quirk Auto Group in Augusta submitted the second lowest bid, $31,005, for a 2021 Dodge Durango.

Brackett informed commissioners about part-time animal control officer Kassidi Gilbert’s resignation. The sheriff reported Gilbert indicated she did not have the necessary time to perform her duties. Lincoln County Communications Center is also looking for a new employee. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported Kate Sullivan, hired eight months ago, is leaving her job. The center filled a vacancy last month and may take a candidate from the previous pool to fill this vacancy.“There may be a viable candidate from the last pool so it may be a pretty quick process,” Kipfer said. “A candidate withdrew before the process ended so we are revisiting the previous applicant to see if they are still interested.”

Last month, the county received two bids for Lincoln County Recycling Center’s packer truck. The bids ranged from $310 to $699. Commissioners declined to accept either bid. The county has since received two more bids. Blagden’s Garage in Wiscasset bid  $1,300 and RC Rogers & Sons of Bath bid $2,000. Commissioners voted 2-0 to accept RC Rogers & Sons’ bid.

Commissioners also approved a new mail machine contract. The county entered into a five-year lease agreement with Pitney Bowes. Kipfer reported the county is mailing fewer documents and the new machine is less expensive and more versatile. “We’re doing more electronic mailing so we don’t need as expensive equipment. The new leased equipment will save us about  $1,000 a year,” she said. 

Commissioners ended the meeting with an executive session dealing with a legal matter. Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the LCRPC building.

This article has been updated from its previous posting.