The number of pre-trail inmates being held at the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset was on the minds of the Lincoln County Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Sheriff Todd Brackett reported there were 29 pre-trail inmates being held; with a low count of seven sentenced inmates, it appeared to be alarming that so many were waiting for trial.

Commissioner William Blodgett asked "Is it because there are not enough justices in the judicial system to take care of the cases?"

Brackett told the board it is a state- wide problem; other counties are having even more of a backlog. He told about an inmate that had been held in Washington County for 90 days for Driving under the Influence for the third time. Because of the prior two counts against him he can- not be bailed.

"When his case is finally heard he will probably have served more time than he would have been sentenced", Brackett said. "That is an extreme case, but nevertheless that is what is happening in the small populated communities. Large cities like Portland, have a justice there all the time. We here in Lincoln County have one here every other month."

As the co-chair of the working group for the Board of Corrections, Brackett said the BOC is working on a five year plan for the state consolidation system, with the aim to lower the cost of corrections.The commissioners indicated they are not optimistic that was going to happen the way things are going.

County Administrator John O’Connell asked Brackett with a smile, "Are you ready to give up on consolidation?"

Brackett answered, "Not yet. Maybe someday, but I am not ready to do that today."

The Lincoln County inmate count at Two Bridges was 36, and Sagadahoc inmate count was 41 as of Tuesday morning.

The commissioners accepted a $13,400 Highway Safety grant which will be used for Operating Under the Influence (OUI) safety enforcement over the Thanksgiving and holiday season. The money will also be used to heighten awareness and enforce traffic safety, according to Brackett.

Emergency Management Director Tim Pellerin updated the commissioners on the H1N1 flu. According to Pellerin there have not been any new reported outbreaks in Lincoln County. Over 41,000 H1N1 vaccinations have been given this week, with 95 percents of the schools receiving the vaccinations. Statewide, there have been 19 people hospitalized with the H1N1 virus, and two deaths.

Four towns outside Lincoln County have requested the services of the Lincoln County 911 services. Before that can happen, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must approve the change.

According to Pellerin, the county must have a back-up power supply. Although the county has one generator, the PUC would require another power supply in the event the generator failed. The commissioners approved Pellerin’s request to use the generator at the Sheriff’s Department that is not being used to full capacity as the second power source.

The cost to connect the generator including a three phase feeder from the courthouse, an automatic transfer switch for emergency power transfer, materials, state permit, and labor will cost $17,900.

County Administrator John O’Connell pointed out that the cost of a new generator would be about $35,000, not including the hook-up

Pellerin’s estimate of $17,900, from Gary Arsenault, from Northern Lights Electric in Boothbay, doesn’t include the lines from the sheriff’s department to the communications center which is expected to cost around $5,000. The commissioners moved to take the money from the buildings and grounds account.

Recycling Supervisor Mike Thompson presented a recycling renewal contract for the town of Warren for the commissioners’ signatures. Thompson told them he had not increased the fees from last year, because the fees were increased $1,000 in last year’s contract, and he could not justify another increase.

O’Connell agreed with Thompson, saying the recycling program has slowed down, which means less trips, and the cost of gas has gone down since last year’s contract.The commissioners agreed and signed the contract.

Thompson spoke about accepting rigid plastic materials, and working with a vendor to pick them up.

He gave the commissioners a list of acceptable rigid plastics, which includes: plastic buckets with metal handles; plastic milk/soda crates; plastic laundry baskets; empty garage cans (any size) CD’s & DVD’s (and cases) computer housing (no circuits) automobile plastics such as bumpers, side view mirrors grills, head lights and rear lights and hub caps; pick-up truck bed liners; plastic traffic signs, and much more. The total list is available at the Lincoln County Recycling Center.

The commissioners scheduled two executive (closed) sessions, to consult with legal counsel, MRSA 405 6 (E) and a personnel matter MRSA 405 6 (A).