Secretary of State Matt Dunlap came to Wiscasset on Tuesday, Jan. 3 to swear in Commissioners Mary Trescot and Hamilton Meserve. Both ran unopposed in their elections in 2016.

Lincoln County was the only county to request that Dunlap come to swear in the commissioners, who, according to statute, must be sworn in on the first day of the new term. Other state officials can swear in county commissioners.

The ceremony at 10 a.m. was preceded by coffee and pastries.

It was a fairly light fortnight for the county. One piece of business involved obtaining the proposals from banks interested in providing tax anticipation notes, financial instruments which allow the county to have access to funds while waiting for tax monies to come in. Three banks submitted proposals, including Bath Savings, Camden National Bank, and The First. The commissioners will decide which bank to choose at the next meeting on Jan. 17.

Tod Hartung of Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency said that two towns opened warming stations briefly during the power outage that followed Winter Storm Fortis last week. Alna and Damariscotta opened stations for a brief time.

Sheriff Todd Brackett reminded the commissioners that he expected shellfish warden contracts to be completed by the Jan. 17 meeting.  He also introduced Bill Ellsworth, who gave a presentation on the Jail’s and Sheriff’s Department’s Addiction Resource Center program.

Other items on the agenda included approving a service contract for computer support, approving Jail Authority appointments of four people who were beginning a new term, and announcing the retirement of bookkeeper Mary Stacy.