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Commissioners reallocate $336,000 in ARPA funds to water, power and housing projects
Summary
Lincoln County approved reallocating $336,000 in available ARPA funds: $150,000 to Waldoboro for a booster‑station water extension, $150,000 (conditional) to extend three‑phase power for Waldoboro and Volunteers of America, and $36,000 to Newcastle for site work; conditional award pending CMP cost confirmation.
Lincoln County commissioners voted to reallocate $336,000 in ARPA funds previously committed to affordable‑housing projects that are returning or unable to spend their awards.
Emily Rabbie, a planning staffer with the Lincoln Regional Planning Commission, told commissioners the funds come from a $96,000 return from a developer and other changes in scope, creating $336,000 that needs reassignment. Rabbie recommended $150,000 for Waldoboro’s booster‑station water extension, $150,000 conditionally for a three‑phase power extension serving both Waldoboro and a Volunteers of America Northern New England affordable‑housing site, and $36,000 for the town of Newcastle to move a fire hydrant and complete engineering for an access road and utilities.
Rabbie said the Waldoboro water work is “primed for development,” has $1 million from the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and needs pre‑engineering and environmental reviews that are not covered by that grant. On three‑phase power, she said Central Maine Power (CMP) advised that poles and wires could be installed quickly but transformers and service connections have lead times of 30–40 weeks; she proposed using county funds for poles and wires now and leaving transformers to the developer or town when they reach construction stage.
Commissioners discussed timelines and agreed to a conditional award: the full $150,000 for the three‑phase extension would be confirmed by May 1 pending final CMP cost estimates and confirmation that work can be separated (poles/wires vs. transformer/service). Rabbie said Newcastle is advancing site planning and community listening sessions and could use the $36,000 for hydrant relocation and spring 2026 engineering.
The board voted to accept the planning commission’s recommendations and approved the reallocations by roll call. Commissioners and planning staff emphasized the restriction that ARPA reallocations must stay within projects already approved by the county and cannot create new program categories.
