Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Aroostook County Commissioners last met on June 15 at the Caribou Courthouse for deliberations of a 10-point agenda. County Administrator Doug Beaulieu presented his administrator’s report, topics of which included Horizon Wind Energy’s Number 9 mountain project, the Maine Pretrial Program, equipment grants received by the North Lakes Fire and Rescue, Patten ambulance service, a map from 1862 that was found in the office of County Public Works Director Paul Bernier and LD 797.
In early June, Bernier and Beaulieu met with a representative of Horizon Wind Energy to discuss the proposed wind energy on Number 9 Mountain in the unorganized territory, west of Bridgewater. A potential project would require transmission lines, and the possibility of using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to assist with the cost of the infrastructure.
When a project is completed that increases the value of the surrounding area, the increased site value tends to generate increased tax revenues, which is the ‘tax increment” referred to in Tax Increment Financing. Tax Increment Financing dedicates tax increments within a certain area to help pay for the project which will increase the area’s value. TIF provides funding for projects that my be otherwise unaffordable to areas.
Beaulieu presented the County Commissioners — Chairperson Paul Adams, Norman Fournier and Paul Underwood — with the May report of Maine Pretrial. Beaulieu stated that without Maine Pretrial, The County would be boarding out an additional 95 inmates.
“We’re getting very good service [from Maine Pretrial] right now,” Beaulieu said. “The return on our investment in incredible,” he added, stating that the program continues to be worth its weight in gold to Aroostook County.”
During his administrator’s report, Beaulieu also updated the commissioners on the state of two grants received by North Lakes Fire and Rescue. One grant of $3,500 is for an extrication strut kit and the second grant is to cover two thirds the cost up to, but not exceeding, $1,576.67 for a hose-testing machine. Beaulieu commented that the efforts of Northern Lakes Fire and Rescue Chief Darren Woods in obtaining these grants is a great thing.
The Patten Ambulance Service has notified the commissioners that they are waiving Aroostook County’s ambulance service contract fee until further notice, saving the county roughly $1,000 a quarter ($4,000 a year).
Beaulieu also informed the commissioners that while cleaning out an office for newly appointed Bernier, an unexpected piece of the past was discovered.
What started as a passing comment of ‘that’s a nice map,’ led to closer inspection and the realization that the framed map on the wall was an authentic 1862 map.
“Not to be disparaging,” said Beaulieu, “but [the old map] really has no place in an office like that, particularly when we don’t have the resources to preserve it and keep it nice.”
The commissioners agreed with Beaulieu’s request to relocate the map the Maine State Archives under the proviso that the map be provided to the Archives with an indefinite ‘on-loan’ designation. Beaulieu also mentioned that the Archives would love to have the map and they plan to restore it.
The ATV grant for Cross Lake and Sinclair was approved with a total value of trail improvements being $100,000.
“The trail goes through Sinclair and Cross Lake which, in essence, offers a 70 percent grant with a 30 percent match,” said Bernier, who wrote the grant. “If [the trail] had been in just Sinclair or just Cross Lake, [the grant] would have been a 50/50 match and would have been a lot more expensive for the clubs. [The grant] offers a 70 percent grant/30 percent loan, and I applied for $109,360 which included making a new trail system plus the annual maintenance of all their existing trails for the season,” he added. “The county of Aroostook is going to get a grant amount of $76,552; the balance, 30 percent, will be borne by the ATV club in Sinclair and I also was able to get some time and donated equipment from Long Lake Construction.”
Beaulieu informed the commissioners of LD 797, which will impact Aroostook County in that any area with the designation of “squa” will have to be renamed. A plan-of-action will be discussed at a future meeting. He also informed the commissioners that a meeting is scheduled for Law Enforcement Collective Bargaining negations on July 28, and that a review of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget by the Corrections Working Group on June 15. Denise Lord, Associate Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, was quite interested in the salaries paid to Aroostook County Corrections Officers.
Exiting from executive session, a motion was passed to send a letter to Governor John Baldacci nominating Tom Clowes, Richard Ezzy and Paul Underwood for consideration as potential Trustees to the Loring Development Authority.
Commissioners also decided, after discussion with Register of Probate Joanne Carpenter, to come up with a viable solution to meet the workload demands for the Probate Office without incurring additional costs. According to Carpenter, the office is in need of a temporary part-time employee to replace an employee who is out on medical leave.
The commissioners approved: the hiring of a full-time dispatcher, the creation of a letter of support for the Maliseet Tribe for SBA Certification; and a liquor license for the Bear Den Family Restaurant Bar and Grill in Benedicta under the conditions that more information is received to complete the application. The next meeting of the County Commissioners is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 in Fort Kent.
