A recent Boston Globe article caught the attention Newcastle resident Jan Schwartz which resulted in her attending the Sept. 16 Lincoln County commissioners' meeting. The Sept. 6 news article listed five New England locations as new facilities to house illegal alien detainees. Four facilities are in New Hampshire and the fifth was identified as Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. She asked county officials for more information about jail authority operations.

County Sheriff Todd Brackett is a member of the 12-person Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority Advisory Board. Brackett told her he couldn't "speak on behalf of the board" and referred questions to Col. James Bailey, the jail's administrator. Brackett later commented on the jail's practices regarding ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) prisoners. "We don't hold any ICE detainees on administrative warrants in the jail. They must have committed a crime in Maine or the U.S.," he said.

This was the second time Brackett heard about the Boston Globe article. He reported earlier in the week a Bristol resident questioned him about the reported ICE and Two Bridges Regional Jail housing additional detainees.

During the commissioners' meeting, Brackett reported about a dozen ICE detainees were housed monthly on average during June, July and August.

On Sept. 17, the Boothbay Register attempted to contact officials at Two Bridges Regional Jail and Boston ICE without success. Schwartz said she wanted to attend the next TBRJA meeting in November.

In other action, commissioners approved the county's new Paid Medical and Family Leave Policy. In 2025, Maine enacted its own paid leave program requiring employers with 15 or more employees to contribute 1% of employees' wages into a state program fund.

Employers can opt out of the state program and operate their own. Lincoln County opted out and will manage its own program.  Lincoln County employees become eligible for the paid family leave benefit in May 2026.

Brackett received approval for three sheriff's department purchase authorizations. Commissioners approved renewing an Absolute Software subscription for $4,800. The software enables cruisers' mobile data computers to connect to a central server for enhanced communication and security. 

Commissioners approved $4,867 for purchasing ballistic vests, plates and carriers from Admiral Fire & Safety. Brackett reported a federal grant would pay for half. Commissioners approved a $2,852 purchase for radial winter tires.

Commissioners approved requests for the County Emergency Management Agency. Director Emily Huber received approval for purchasing "Stop the Bleed" kits and a command vehicle radio installation. The agency will purchase 36 "Stop the Bleed" kits totaling $30,000. The agency plans on distributing two kits to each Lincoln County public school. "Each kit has eight packages with chest ventilation materials, a ventilation kit and gauze. These kits are for mass casualty situations," Huber said.

Commissioners approved a $11,250 payment to RCM (Radio Communications Maine) in Portland to equip the agency's command vehicle. Huber reported one radio is in the front with two in back. "The driver can respond when the vehicle is on the road and we can operate it as a command center listening to three to four transmissions," she said.

Commissioners approved the second year of a five-year contract between Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission and the State Office of Community Affairs. Executive Director Emily Rabbe of LCRPC reported the state receives federal dollars through National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration which partially funds the grant.

"This funding provides us with the ability to advance community resilience priorities, grant writing, and implementing projects," Rabbe said. "Our funding is up to $100,000 which also provides opportunities for regional workshops and training." Huber added, the grant's first-year proceeds also helped pay their intern's summer salary. 

County Administrator Carrie Kipfer received approval to replace a 2001 recycling center Packer truck. Commissioners approved purchasing a used truck with about 12,000 miles. The county will pay $152,700 to Trucks and Parts of Tampa, Florida for purchase and delivery.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.