Lincoln County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Rand Maker had minor injuries in an accident on Route 1 in West Bath Oct. 2. The accident totaled the Ford SUV he was driving, according to Sheriff Todd Brackett, during the Oct. 16 commissioner’s meeting. 

Insurance covered $16,000 of the replacement of the vehicle, and Brackett said another $500 is expected to cover emergency equipment such as lights that were also destroyed. The vehicle hydroplaned in a rainstorm, Brackett said. Maker was treated and released.

Commissioners authorized receiving bids to replace the damaged vehicle, and authorized receipt of bids to trade in and replace the Sheriff’s Office’s pickup truck, which has reached nearly 100,000 miles.

Commissioners approved hiring three reserve officers who will staff the courthouse part time: Bryce Collamore, who currently works as a correctional officer at Two Bridges Regional Jail, Roger Wilcox, a retired deputy, and Warren Waltz, the former Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service director. Another full-time job will be advertised again, since the person who was offered it has been unable to sell his home out of state.

Sgt. Aaron Mortensen was recognized for his 30 years of service to the Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency Management Director Casey Stevens said the county is working on tapping into the IPAWS, or Integrated Public Alert Warning System that will inform residents of local emergencies. Stevens said minor issues such as road closures will not be covered, but alerts on fires, hazardous spills and other emergencies will be sent to the mobile phones of people in the area. The federal government tested a national version of the program earlier this month, and other government entities are also working toward it. Stevens said the first step is to establish policies and procedures. A Homeland Security grant will fund a consultant to work with the county.

EMA will be at Damariscotta’s Trick or Trunk event at Great Salt Bay School on Halloween. EMA will hand out candy and information and have a starter preparedness kit for raffle.

Grants have been awarded to Ransom Engineering for brownfield planning work, and to Axiom for broadband planning, according to Mary Ellen Barnes of Lincoln County Planning Commission. The broadband program covers several towns in the northern part of the county.

Barnes said Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor are working on a Maine Community Foundation grant application to work toward broadband planning.

County Administrator Carrie Kipfer said the county has earned $11,650 in sales of compost.