In 2022, four Midcoast counties began considering how more collaboration may stretch tax dollars farther. Prosecutorial District VI includes Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo and Knox counties, and all four struggle with funding jail operations. For nearly two years, the four have collaborated on cost-sharing arrangements.

Now the four are considering taking their arrangement to the next level. On Jan. 11, Prosecutorial District VI members will meet in Rockland to discuss hiring a consultant who would assess their individual and collective jail needs. Members will review a SMRT Inc. proposal for assessing the three local jails. SMRT Inc. is a Northeast consulting firm with two offices in Maine: Bangor and Portland. Consultant Wayne Applebee would participate in writing the firm's assessment. He previously served as a Two Bridges correctional administrator, Lincoln County chief deputy and Wiscasset police officer. 

Commissioner William Blodgett will serve as Lincoln County's representative at the Jan. 11 meeting. He told his newly elected colleagues, Evan Goodkowsky of Wiscasset and David Levesque of Newcastle, if a consultant is hired then none of the counties are obligated to follow through with any recommendations. "This is not an approval of consolidation. I want to emphasis that. That decision is down the road," he said.

Lincoln County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported Waldo and Knox would each pay $18,000 in consultant fees and Lincoln's and Sagadahoc would pay a combined figure close to $40,000. 

In other action, commissioners unanimously renewed animal control officer agreements with Jefferson and Dresden. Chief Deputy Rand Maker expects any remaining towns inclined to seek renewals would reply by month's end. 

Allen Oliver is the county's full-time animal control officer. Commissioners conditionally hired Lindsay Smith of Whitefield to serve as assistant animal control officer. "Allen has been alone for over a year. My recommendation is to hire her conditionally pending a criminal background check," Sheriff Todd Brackett said.

The board also renewed a Marine Shellfish Warden contract with Bremen. Brackett explained the agreement allows for deputy sheriffs to enforce local shellfish town ordinances. The department already has shellfish agreements with Damariscotta, Newcastle and Bremen. Brackett reported Bristol may also enter into an agreement. 

Brackett also received commissioner authorization to renew three Motorola In-Car/Body Worn Camera subscriptions totaling $8,100. He also received authorization to pay Police One Academy $3,198 for online training. "We have required annual training for occupational safety, workplace harassment and fire extinguisher safety. We do this through an online subscription which allows deputies to do it in their vehicles, so it avoids paying overtime. It has worked well for us," he said. 

Commissioners renewed a $33,849.17 records maintenance agreement with Central Square Technologies. Brackett said the system is shared with the four municipal police departments in Lincoln County. 

Commissioners accepted a $9,900 federal Highway Safety Speed Grant. Brackett explained the grant would purchase two new radar speed monitoring devices and pay for additional deputy patrol overtime.