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Hancock County Commissioners approve airport grants, equipment purchases, hires and radon contract
Summary
At its July 7 meeting, the Hancock County Commissioners approved airport grant awards and related procurement, authorized sheriff equipment purchases to be reimbursed by federal grants, accepted two jail hires and two resignations, and awarded a courthouse radon-mitigation contract.
The Hancock County Commissioners on July 7 approved a package of routine but consequential actions including airport grant awards, equipment procurements and personnel moves.
Commissioner Clark moved and Commissioner DiBella seconded motions that the board approved Grant offer BHB 3-23-0006-065-2026 to acquire snow removal equipment in the amount of $849,884.00 and authorized the chair to sign on behalf of Hancock County. The board also approved a Notice to Award the bid to M-B Companies for that acquisition contingent on completion of the grant offer. Commissioners approved Grant offer BHB 3-23-0006-066-2026 (Easement Acquisition) in the amount of $639,350.00 and a Notice to Award to Axtell’s Pavement Solutions LLC for the Airport-Wide Pavement Maintenance & Markings project (BHB 3-23-0006-068-2026). All motions were recorded as Clark/DiBella, 3-0.
The board approved purchases for the Sheriff’s Office: a Radar and Variable Message Trailer (Model: Speed Alert 24 on ATS5) manufactured by All Traffic Solutions for $34,999.64, to be paid from the Sheriff’s Office Equipment & Technology Reserve Account (G1-3014-00) and reimbursed by federal grant funds; the related departmental transfer was also approved. Commissioners additionally approved a previously authorized purchase of five Stalker DSR 2X radar units, as reflected in the Treasurer motions.
On facilities work, the Commissioners opened a single bid for the courthouse Radon Mitigation Project from Rick Curtis Contractor of Brewer, Maine, for $19,125; after county staff review, the board accepted that bid and authorized payment from the building reserve account G1-3011-00. Dennis Walls presented an update on the EOC building, noting drywall completion, siding installation and a new entrance roof, and said Buildings C and E will use an existing sump pump system to save costs.
In personnel actions, the board approved hiring Jonathan Conary of Ellsworth as a part-time, on-call corrections officer at pay grade 9A, $25.13 per hour, with no benefits, effective July 4, 2026, and Lea Pua Cagulada-Pierce as a part-time, on-call cook at pay grade 6C, $23.10 per hour, effective July 4, 2026. The Commissioners accepted resignations from Patrol Deputy Kamren Jennings and Banyon Jarvis effective July 17, 2026; both resignations were recorded with thanks for service.
Julie Curtis, Registrar of Deeds, requested and won approval to buy three historical maps from Raymond Silsby for $10,000 using the Community Benefits Account. The County will offer the Ellsworth map to the City of Ellsworth for $4,000 and the Mount Desert Island (MDI) map to the Mount Desert Island Historical Society for $2,500 on condition neither party may transfer the maps into private hands; the Hancock County map will remain with county Deeds for public access.
Financial housekeeping included approval of monthly bills and warrants; UT FY2025 and FY2026 end-of-year reserve transfers; and an instruction to the Treasurer to accept a fixed-rate option of 2.75% from Machias Savings Bank. Where motions recorded a vote, the minutes show unanimous approval (Clark/DiBella, 3-0).
The Commissioners entered an executive session under 1 MRSA § 405(6)(A) to discuss personnel matters and returned with no report. The meeting adjourned at 10:14 a.m.
