The federal government has issued a declaration of disaster in the wake of the October windstorm that caused massive power outages, tree downings and other damage to Lincoln County. The declaration is only for public entities, so there will be no relief for individuals under the declaration, according to Casey Stevens, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director.

The county and towns that can prove their losses will receive funds to make their budgets whole. According to Stevens, the amount of losses were estimated when the paperwork had to be filed, and the final amount that might be provided is “fluid.” For instance, Newcastle estimated a debris removal cost of $100,000, but the final costs were lower.

Although the numbers are expected to change, here are the initial estimates towns reported: Alna: $16,365; Boothbay: $24,500; Boothbay Harbor: $17,000; Bremen: $10,869; Bristol: $13,240; Damariscotta: $14,000; Dresden: $22,248; Edgecomb: $44,946; Jefferson: $70,000; Monhegan Plantation: $60; Newcastle: $103,082; Nobleboro: $21,754; Southport: $12,500; Waldoboro: $38,000; Westport Island: $55,000; Whitefield: $13,555; and Wiscasset: $48,633. Lincoln County’s initial estimate is $5,408.

While debris removal was the largest category, other categories of loss included emergency proactive measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreation. Damariscotta also submitted $4,000 for private nonprofits.

The total requested was $536,617. Each town will have to provide receipts, payment records, photographs, and other documentation to receive the funds. The material has to be uploaded through a digital portal; no one has been trained yet on the system.

Stevens also announced his department received an Emergency Management Performance Grant, a biannual grant that paid half the EMA budget. This year, the grant award was $227,544, for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

Sheriff Todd Brackett got commissioners’ approval of a drug forfeiture gun, a Glock, at no expense, and which is the same as the arsenal the department already uses. He also announced that Bristol approved the shellfish contract.

Communication Director Joe Westrich is working with the legislature to tweak LD 1671, a bill that would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to lower the amount of funding to the 9-1-1 surcharge, which has been more than what has been used. Federal grants are harder to get if the 9-1-1 surcharge is taken by the state for general fund uses, Westrich said. However, he said he would like to use some of the surplus for training and other purposes, and is in negotiations with the committee to discuss the issue. He also said training for the “I am responding” system will be done at two fire departments in Lincoln in the upcoming weeks. The program lets fire chiefs and other interested parties know how many people are responding to a scene.

Bids were opened for next year’s tax anticipation note; the issue was tabled until the next meeting, to give the finance department a chance to review the offers.

Administrator Carrie Kipfer got approval to hire a new recycling truck driver, Brian McLaughlin, and to renew the IT services contract with Burgess Technology, adding additional hours to the flat rate. The additional $4,800 brings the total to $43,200, but the county will no longer have to negotiate additional hours at the end of the contract.