The county's low-powered AM radio transmitter in Newcastle's days maybe numbered. Dec. 16, County Emergency Management Agency Director Emily Huber proposed abandoning ownership due to constant winter maintenance for a seldom used service.

EMA uses the Hunt Hill tower for its AM radio transmissions which operate on solar power. Newcastle also has a radio repeater on the tower which uses the county's solar power. Huber told selectmen during the winter months there isn't enough solar power to operate both due to the loss of a back-up generator.

So she proposed a solution. "In the past couple years maintenance has been more than our office can handle," she said. "So I'd like to propose vacating our transmitter and possibly giving it, and other equipment to Newcastle."

With the generator's loss, Huber explained she needs to shut off the radio transmitter in the winter because there isn't enough solar power to operate both the transmitter and the fire department's repeater.  "So on cold days and when it snows, I need to remove snow from the solar panels to power the repeater and there isn't enough power to use the transmitter."

Commissioners gave Huber approval to seek a contract termination with the tower's owner.  She reported, under the current agreement, Lincoln County must provide a year's notice. She will send a "letter of dismissal" to the owner and another one to Newcastle Fire Department notifying them of EMA's decision.

Huber suggested Newcastle may want to take over the county lease, and EMA would give them the solar panel and all other county property at the site. "The tower owner would have to agree as would Newcastle," she said. If Newcastle and the land owner decline EMA's offer then the county would be responsible for removing the solar panels and other county-owned property from the site.

In other action, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission is seeking a $500,000 federal Brownfields Assessment grant. Executive Director Emily Rabbe told commissioners she expects the Environmental Protection Agency to fund "around 70 applications" which would provide funding to Lincoln County for Brownfields assessments for local communities and property owners.

Commissioners unanimously approved Rabbe's request. The application deadline is Jan. 28.

Rabbe reported an amendment to their Municipal Planning Assistance contract will result in a windfall to the commission. She reported Maine's Office of Community Affairs has amended the contracts with planning commissions around the state. The amendment results in providing an additional $1,800. The money is for training RPO (regional planning office) staff on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) trained flood plain management requirements."There are only 20 people trained and certified in FEMA flood trained management. The staff will take the training together and we will all be certified," Rabbe said.

Rabbe announced Curtis Brown, the commission's land use and transportation planner, is leaving. Commissioners accepted his resignation. Rabbe said Brown is pursuing a master's degree in analytics and geographic information system mapping. It won't be a total departure by Brown. Rabbe said he will work on special projects on a per diem basis.

Commissioners approved repairing the recycling center's 2019 Kenworth truck which received attention for a troublesome check engine light that resulted in the discovery of a crack in the exhaust manifold. The commissioners authorized a $7,670 payment to New England Kenworth in Portland.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6.