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Sagadahoc County funds culture scan and $19,000 feasibility study for regional jail planning
Summary
The County authorized an $18,000 Culture Scan of the Sheriff’s departments and approved a $19,000 SMRT feasibility study to develop long-range capital plans for District 6 corrections facilities; both measures passed unanimously and funding will come from existing Sheriff's budget lines.
Sagadahoc County commissioners on Dec. 10 approved two initiatives aimed at addressing staffing, culture and long-term facility needs in the county’s corrections system. Commissioners voted 3-0 to reallocate $18,000 from a patrol deputy salary line to fund a Culture Scan by Cynthia Brann of Dirigo Safety and separately authorized $19,000 from the Sheriff’s Corrections budget to pay for an SMRT feasibility study for the District 6 Corrections Collaborative.
Sheriff Joel Merry said the Culture Scan is an anonymous, third-party assessment designed to surface candid views from staff and produce a detailed report the agency can act on. "The process will facilitate closing that divide," Merry said, arguing the assessment is an investment in employee retention and in public safety.
Merry described SMRT’s proposal as a two-phase process: an initial assessment followed by development of a 20-year capital plan tailored to each facility. He said the study will provide a capital-needs assessment for Two Bridges Regional Jail, Knox County Jail and the Waldo County Reentry Center and could inform how counties share capacity or costs. Commissioners were told SMRT’s original per-facility price was higher but negotiators narrowed deliverables and costs; Sagadahoc County’s portion was presented as $19,000.
The Finance Director confirmed the $18,000 culture-scan cost can be covered by moving funds from the patrol deputy salary line to professional services, which the board approved 3-0. The SMRT authorization also passed 3-0, and commissioners said the studies will inform future capital and regional planning discussions.
The county’s moves come as Sheriff Merry has highlighted operational strains in recent months, including a backlog linked to court scheduling and long average stays for inmates. The next steps are for the Sheriff’s Office to finalize contracts and for the studies to produce deliverables that county officials can review at future meetings.
