Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett may have found a way around long delays on deliveries of ordered equipment. On Nov. 16, he proposed ordering equipment, such as cruisers, earlier in the year to offset an expected 22-week delivery period for cruisers. In April, commissioners approved buying three cruisers which still haven’t been delivered. Commissioners approved a fourth authorizing Brackett’s request to buy a 2022 hybrid Ford Interceptor utility vehicle for the criminal investigation unit. 

The new vehicle won’t be delivered until March. But Brackett wants to avoid future long waits by starting the bid process sooner. He proposed beginning the bid process in January instead of April. “We ordered three vehicles in April which we still haven’t received. I think speeding up the bid process may work around this,” he said.

Commissioners authorized the purchase of an unmarked cruiser for $36,401 from Quirk Auto Group. Brackett reported the hybrid vehicle is $4,000 more than a non-hybrid model. He expects the more expensive purchase may be more economical in the future due to current gas price trends. 

Brackett also received approval to buy 27 sets of all-season tires for the department’s fleet. Commissioners approved two sets of invoices from Lee’s Tire and Service of Brunswick. One invoice was $4,265. The second was $7,633.76. 

In other action, County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens submitted his Fiscal Year 21 Homeland Security Grant list. The county qualifies for $88,139.51 in federal HSG funding. The priority list has six designations for funding. For the sheriff’s department, automatic license plate reader, $25,499.43; body wire communications system, $4,000; all-terrain vehicles, $17,000; and trailer, $9,000. 

For cyber security enhancement, Arctic Wolf computer software, $3,000; Microsoft Office 365 software, $700; Barracuda Essentials Complete Protection, $600; and Quarterly Cyber Training, $2,500. For special teams and rescue task force, body armor, $16,340.08. For special team and search and rescue, uniforms, $800; and GPS units, $1,200. For special team-Devon Strike Team (Haz-Mat), $5,000; special team amateur radio, $2,500. 

Commissioners are also using American Rescue Plan Act stimulus funding to fund communications center safety improvements. Commissioners approved $2,690 for the center’s wall reconfiguration. Commissioners also approved $152,000.08 to replace the dispatch console. A third communications center purchase cost $2,759.50. This will covert radio traffic into signals into the new digital format. 

Commissioners also authorized buying a new baler for Lincoln County Recycling in Wiscasset. The new baler costs $453,857 which includes a surcharge for steel, hydraulic stamper, conveyor feed hopper, 550 gallons of oil, freight delivery from North Carolina, and installation. Kipfer reported the county received a $20,000 discount from Recycling Mechanical of New England in Allentown, New Hampshire.

“The company has a good relationship with Casella Waste Management which helped us in receiving a discount,” Kipfer said.  

Commissioners held an executive session to discuss two legal matters. Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7.