Commissioners give SHAPE award

By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
    CARIBOU — The Aroostook County Commissioners met in Caribou on Dec. 17 to discus issues and occurrences in Aroostook County.
    The presentation of the Shape Award was made by David Wacker, director of the Bureau of Labor Standards Workplace Safety and Health Division for the Department of Labor to Darren Woods on behalf of the North Lakes Fire and Rescue Department.
    “This is the first time we’ve ever given it to a county association,” said Wacker, “we’ve done it for fire departments and we’ve done it for the whole city of Caribou, but this is a first. This award not only signifies the reduction of injuries and illnesses, it reduces worker’s comp costs, which is very important, and it builds the morale within the fire departments,” Wacker added.
    Tim Poitras gave an overview of the 2007/2008 unorganized territory audit, which went well.
    “Overall, at the end of the year, the territories had $977,000 in net assets,” said Poitras, “for the fiscal year, net assets increased by $128,000, which is primarily due to capital purchases.”
    “It was a clean audit,” Poitras concluded.
    Vern Ouellette gave the commissioners an update on Emergency Management Agency activities, including the creation of a second dispatch station in Houlton and the ongoing creation of a mobile communications center for remote locations.
    Ouellette also discussed the status of flood recovery from last spring.
    “We have a massive database of about 500 to 600 individuals who were affected by the flood,” said Ouellette, last Wednesday night, “We have a letter going out to all of these people to see if anyone else has any unmet needs.”    
    The commissioners approved the renewal of a liquor license for St. Peter’s Country Store and the creation of a full-time sergeant position for the Corrections Department.
    Though the commissioners discussed the renewal of the mowing contract for the Silver Ridge Cemetery, they agreed that no decision would be made until further information was discussed.
    The presentation of a plaque to Duncan Beaton, member of the finance committee was tabled for another time due to the weather; Beaton and his wife of Easton were unable to make it to the meeting.
    The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6 in Houlton.