Corrections board pays balance owed County
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The Board of Corrections paid the balance of $137,382 due to the county for operations at the Aroostook County Jail and related transportation costs, according to County Administrator Douglas Beaulieu in his report to the County Commissioners last Wednesday evening.
Beaulieu also reported that the resignation as of June 1 of Betty McLean, the deputy register of deeds in Houlton was accepted “with regrets” due to her retirement.
In other matters, Paul Underwood recommended that the commissioners table motions on bids for road maintenance in the unorganized territories pending Beaulieu’s review. Underwood’s motion was seconded and carried.
However, they approved a low bid by a current contractor, T&D Snow Removal for work at the Ft. Kent registry. The bid was approved as: $1,800 for FY 2010/11; $1,850 for FY 2011/12 and $1,900 for FY 2012/13. Beaulieu termed the amounts “a good price.”
The commissioners also authorized Beaulieu to execute a three-year solid waste agreement for Molunkus Township with the town of Mattawamkeag. Beaulieu commended Public Works Director Paul Bernier who “did a really nice job in a professional format.”
The annual cost of $9,768 for FY 2010/11 is 2.5 percent over the current contract and there will be a 2.5 percent increase in each of the two successive years of the new contract. The annual cost in FY 2011/12 will be $10,012; $10,262 in FY 2012/13.
Also discussed before going into executive session on personnel and collective bargaining issues was the appointment of representatives to the executive board of the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC). Norman Fournier and Underwood accepted the responsibility of representing county government to the NMDC and Fournier will represent the unorganized territories.
A $250,000 grant administered by the state using federal funds has been set aside for housing rehabilitation. The energy improvement money will be used in the unorganized territory of Sinclair through a community development block grant, according to Beaulieu.
