Lincoln County commissioners approve routine warrants, hiring and several contracts; auditors’ report accepted

Lincoln County commissioners approved a series of routine financial and administrative items at their meeting, including accounts-payable warrants, payroll, contract authorizations and personnel actions.

The board voted unanimously to approve AP Warrant No. 57 for $100,336.01 and AP Warrant No. 58 for $332,356.49, which finance staff said covered monthly charges such as jail payments, health insurance, retirement contributions, fuel and electricity. Commissioners also approved payroll warrant 2026-12 for $292,267.50.

Finance staff presented the county's audited financial statements for the year ending Dec. 31, 2025 and said auditors made no adjusting journal entries; the board voted 3-0 to accept the audit. "There were no comments, no adjusting journal entries," the finance director reported, and a commissioner called the clean report reassuring for county residents.

The board also approved several contract and procurement requests. Commissioners authorized a $15,000 contract amendment request from Gale (to cover additional site-assessment and mapping work for the public safety building search), with the caveat staff may delay activation until the county needs the work. The board approved a temporary planning-services contract with the Town of Damariscotta funded by a $15,000 Housing Opportunities Program grant to assist the town with site-plan reviews and ordinance updates.

In the Sheriff's Department report, administrators presented vehicle purchase authorizations for three units (a 2026 Ford Explorer Hybrid for $44,152; a 2026 Chevy Tahoe for $56,553 to be used as an unmarked supervisor vehicle; and a 2026 Ford Explorer police-interceptor package for $47,982). Each purchase authorization passed on unanimous voice votes. The sheriff's office also requested and received approval to accept forfeited assets from two state cases (State v. Troy Folk — $3,495; State v. Dante Poelo — $1,090).

Officials approved a vehicle-radio installation (county-owned radio placed in a staff member's personal vehicle) at a cost of $4,545.75, accepted the resignation of EMA Deputy Director Emma McCourney effective June 5 and authorized posting the vacancy, and formally approved an updated EMA deputy director job description to reflect format changes and a posted grade in light of new state posting requirements.

Commissioners also approved a hiring authorization for Timothy Coston, who will fill a truck-driver vacancy at the county recycling/transfer station, and accepted a final ARPA progress report and invoices from the Waldoboro Utility District for work completed with county ARPA funds.

The meeting concluded after a motion to enter executive session under M.R.S.A. Title 1, A7 405(6)(E) for legal discussion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (June 2, 2026): Passed, 3-0. - AP Warrant No. 57 ($100,336.01): Passed, 3-0. - AP Warrant No. 58 ($332,356.49): Passed, 3-0. - Payroll Warrant 2026-12 ($292,267.50): Passed, 3-0. - Acceptance of audited financial statements (Dec. 31, 2025): Passed, 3-0. - Authorization of Gale contract amendment (additional $15,000) and permission for finance director to sign when appropriate: Passed, 3-0. - Temporary planning contract with the Town of Damariscotta (funded $15,000): Passed, 3-0. - Vehicle purchase authorizations (three vehicles): Passed, 3-0 each. - Acceptance of forfeited assets (State v. Troy Folk; State v. Dante Poelo): Passed, 3-0 each. - Table Phoenix Award presentation: Passed, 3-0. - Vehicle radio installation ($4,545.75): Passed, 3-0. - Hiring authorization for Timothy Coston (transfer station truck driver): Passed, 3-0. - Acceptance of Waldoboro Utility District ARPA report: Passed, 3-0.

The board recorded all motions as voice votes with unanimous support in the public portion of the meeting. Several items (notably the public safety building site work) remain in active staff review and will return for further action.