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Sheriff reports mobile kitchen progress and urges state psychiatric capacity; board agrees to send support letter
Summary
Sheriff's staff reported early delivery and good progress on a mobile kitchen project and Major Dan urged state investment in regional psychiatric facilities; commissioners agreed to circulate a letter of support and seek broader county backing.
Sheriff’s office staff reported on June 2 that the county’s mobile kitchen arrived earlier than expected and that contractors have begun site work; drainage issues were addressed and the project is on track, possibly completing in under 30 days.
Separately, Major Dan and jail leadership described cases where individuals with severe mental‑illness needs occupy jail cells because regional psychiatric capacity is lacking. Major Dan said in a prepared statement that placing people who need psychiatric care in maximum‑security jail settings can worsen their condition and strain correctional resources. “It’s inhumane to take somebody who has serious mental‑health issues that needs treatment and ... put them in a maximum‑security setting,” he said.
Major Dan said he sent a detailed letter to U.S. Senator Susan Collins outlining the problem and urging investment in northern and central regional psychiatric facilities. Commissioners agreed to draft and sign a county letter of support and to circulate the sheriff’s letter to other county sheriff/jail administrators and to Maine County Commissioners Association for broader advocacy.
