At their May 15 meeting in the Lincoln County courthouse, Lincoln County Commissioners approved taking possession of EMA equipment and purchasing a recycling center truck.
The equipment consists of four air-paks ($24,000), four spare 4.5 air bottles ($3600), four level B Hazmat suits ($1000), a decontamination tent ($12,000), a cargo trailer ($5000) and a decontamination trailer ($55,000).
Ken Desmond, Operations/Training Officer was on hand to show the commissioners an air-pack and a Hazmat suit. The suits are for contamination, Pellerin explained, not for radiation protection.
The decon trailer, by far the most expensive item, was obtained through working with the Knox County EMA, said Pellerin. He explained that the trailer has a heater and a generator, “the whole nine yards.”
The Lincoln County EMA secured the new decon tent through the Hazmat Tent Replacement Program. This tent, which will replace the one currently located in Boothbay, deploys in 90 seconds and only requires two people to set up, said Pellerin.
The cargo trailer was secured through the 2011 Homeland Security Grant Award.
The commissioners approved Pellerin’s request unanimously that Lincoln County EMA will swap the new cargo trailer with the Newcastle trailer that is no longer road worthy.
Pellerin also announced the EMA will conduct a drill on Monhegan Island on Sat., May 19. He reported that there were 1545 9-1-1 calls since last report on May 1, an increase of 2453 from the previous year, same time period (Jan. 1 through May 15).
Sixty-thousand dollars was budgeted last year for the purchase of a truck; Tom’s Trucks will sandblast and paint the truck, replace the battery and deliver it at a cost of $58,000.
The commissioners discussed if Tom’s Trucks would accept the 1996 Ford L-8000 truck the recycling center now has, as a trade-in. Thompson has sent photos of the truck, and said, “maybe they’ll take it.”
The commissioners approved the new purchase and the trade of the old truck subject to a review of all the paperwork.
Following the meeting, Thompson contacted the company and said Tom’s Trucks will take the L-8000.
The commissioners have not hiked the court’s lease in six years and negotiations with the commissioners has stalled. John O’Connell said he will write them a letter and ask them to meet with the commissioners in person.
The Maine County Commissioners Associations’ annual convention will be held in Boothbay Harbor at Spruce Point Inn on Sept. 5-7. More information is available at the website: lincolncountymaine.me
The next Lincoln County Commissioners meeting is Tues., June 5 at 9 a.m.