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Hancock County commissioners authorize up to $5M TAN, award paving contract and approve hires and purchases
Summary
At a June 16 meeting, Hancock County Commissioners unanimously authorized a tax anticipation note up to $5 million, awarded a $96,036 paving contract for unorganized territories, accepted an animal control officer resignation and approved a hire, adopted pension-plan changes for law enforcement and approved a collective bargaining agreement, and approved several equipment purchases.
Hancock County Commissioners on June 16, 2026 voted unanimously to authorize a federally taxable tax anticipation note (TAN) of up to $5 million, approve several contracts and purchases, and make personnel and policy decisions following a regularly scheduled meeting.
The vote to authorize the TAN accepted an offer from Machias Savings Bank to provide the county with a note in an original principal amount not to exceed $5 million, with an indicated annual interest rate referenced during the meeting. Commissioners also authorized county officials and the treasurer to execute related documents and to allow deputies or acting officials to sign if necessary. "The offer from Machias Savings Bank…is accepted and approved," the chair said as the board recorded a unanimous vote.
Why it matters: the TAN is intended to bridge timing differences between operating needs and tax receipts; staff said the note will be repaid once tax revenues are received later in the fiscal cycle.
Votes at a glance - Authorize tax anticipation note (up to $5,000,000) — motion passed unanimously. - Award Hancock County 2026 unorganized territories paving project to Northeast Paving (Hermon) — $96,036 — approved unanimously. - Accept resignation of Animal Control Officer Nicole Rediker (effective May 27, 2026) and remove from payroll — approved unanimously. - Hire Memphis Mink (Brewer) as Hancock County primary regional animal control officer at $29.35/hour, effective June 20, 2026 — approved unanimously. - Approve purchase of secured stainless-top picnic table from Shamtex as sole-source vendor — $6,289.90 — approved unanimously. - Approve sole-source purchase of a safety restraint chair — $3,300 — approved unanimously. - Approve purchase of five Stalker DSR 2X radar units ($16,000), fronted by the county and reimbursed by federal grant — approved unanimously. - Approve sufficiency and approval of sheriff’s bond, chief deputy bond and deputy bond at district attorney's request — approved unanimously. - Adopt MainePERS special plan 3C for law enforcement future service (effective July 1, 2026) — approved unanimously. - Approve 2026–2028 collective bargaining agreement with Hancock County Sheriff's Office Association (patrol) — approved unanimously. - Adopt proposed 2027 budget calendar as presented — approved unanimously.
Lease negotiation and airport issues: commissioners spent substantial time discussing an aviation lease draft returned by the Fixed Base Operator’s legal counsel. County staff told the commission the returned draft removed the 90% completion checkpoint and other completion-tied language the board had expected to keep. The county administrator said the revised draft “looked like a completely different agreement to me” and recommended either returning the draft to the FBO with firm county expectations or sending it to county counsel, Redman & Winchell, for legal review. Commissioners agreed to communicate the county’s position back to the FBO first and reserved counsel review for later if negotiations do not produce acceptable language.
Personnel and operations: the board accepted the animal control officer’s resignation and approved hiring an applicant recommended by staff and HR. Commissioners also approved purchases for the jail and public safety that staff described as sole-source because of existing equipment compatibility and staff familiarity. The sheriff’s office purchase of radar units will be reimbursed by federal grant funds, which staff estimated would arrive in approximately two months.
Pension and labor agreements: the commission adopted changes to the county retirement plan for law enforcement officers to MainePERS special plan 3C for future service while retaining prior-plan treatment for preexisting service periods as required. Commissioners also approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement covering 2026–2028 with the sheriff’s patrol unit.
What’s next: staff said AB contract pricing for the Emergency Operations Center design will be available in about a week for the next meeting, and commissioners scheduled a small workshop on involuntary termination policy for department heads and HR. The meeting adjourned after unanimous votes on remaining items.
Sources: meeting proceedings, June 16, 2026 Hancock County Commissioners meeting transcript. All motions and vote outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes.
