At the June 6 Lincoln County Commissioners meeting, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Casey Stevens filled the commissioners in on the search and rescue of an 84-year-old Bristol man with dementia who had slipped out to go for a walk in the woods and never came home.

The man was reported missing by his wife when he did not come back right away, and by evening, the volunteer search and rescue squad was deployed, along with the Sheriff’s Department and other first responders.

The story had a happy ending – the man was located around 12:30 a.m. May 24, cold and wet, but otherwise physically OK.

Since then, however, Stevens has been looking for electronic tracking devices, which would have found the man in minutes, not hours. Lincoln County will serve as a pilot program for a system called “Project Lifesaver,” which includes a wristwatch-like transmitter at the cost of about $300 to be worn by people who tend to wander — the frail elderly suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, children and adults with autism, or others — and a receiver held by the Sheriff’s Department. The cost of the receiver is about $5,000. Only one would be needed. The receiver picks up the signal of the transmitter through cell phone towers or GPS satellites and leads rescuers to the person with the transmitter.

Stevens is hopeful at least some of the costs would be borne by the search and rescue organization that is testing numerous devices of this type. Commissioners encouraged him to start the process of becoming a pilot site as quickly as possible.

Communications Director Joe Westrich spent at least part of the end of May in a fox costume, going to schools to teach children about the importance of the 9-1-1 system and how to use it properly. He visited Jefferson Village School and brought thank-you notes written by the first grade class. He also visited Bristol Consolidated and Wiscasset Elementary schools. Because of the transition and the fact the Communications Department is still not staffed at optimum levels, fewer classes were given this year than last, but Westrich hopes to do more with the schools in the fall.

He said the process of hiring an assistant director has been very slow and that he had only received one application before the process closed. He noted that many of the people who are applying for Communications jobs don’t seem to have a background in the field, so he is encouraging them to visit the center and observe before moving forward with the application process. Westrich also finalized contract renewals with the Kennebec County towns of Gardiner, Pittston, Randolph and Farmingdale to provide 9-1-1 services. 

Sheriff Todd Brackett said the jail is now receiving Knox County inmates due to problems with staffing Knox County Jail. Twenty Knox County inmates are currently housed at Two Bridges, and Brackett has made an offer to permit Knox County Jail to continue  sending inmates for now. That brings the total population at Two Bridges up to 174, which is closer to full than the jail has been in several years.

Brackett also brought purchase orders for the budgeted new Dodge Charger and the dash cam video system for two vehicles, and for a walk-through metal detector which will soon be installed at the Courthouse, and reimbursed by the state. A used vehicle for a detective’s undercover car was selected from a group of bids from Newcastle Chrysler and Quirk Chevrolet. The 2016 Chevrolet Impala will come from Quirk.

The department’s new School Resource Officer, Chad Gilbert, will travel to Burlington, Vermont for training. He will be based at Lincoln Academy after he completes training.

Mary Ellen Barnes of the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission asked for permission to sign an agreement for a USDA Rural Development grant that will give up to 50 businesses in Lincoln County site assessments for renewable energy projects. The commissioners approved.

Two projects slated for eminent domain taking by Maine Department of Transportation for bridge and highway work will be the subject of hearings on June 14 at the Communications Center. There will be site visits for each site — one at Edgecomb-Boothbay, and one in South Bristol.

County Administrator Carrie Kipfer said the newly purchased Lincoln County recycling truck involved in an accident with a motorcycle last month had only minor damage and was fixed by the county. The motorcyclist is still recovering from serious injuries, including the amputation of one of his legs in the accident, Kipfer said.

It was decided that Lincoln County would not sign the petition for further review of the Wiscasset Water District’s rate increases through the Public Utility Commission’s public advocate after discovering that the increased costs for water for the four buildings owned by the county, not counting the jail, would be less than $1,000 dollars per year.

Renewal recycling contracts were signed with Georgetown, Windsor and Warren.

A Lincoln County resident has offered to create a new website for the county at no charge. Kipfer said she will be going out to take photos it.