By Jeremy Boulier
Special to Pioneer Times
HOULTON — The Aroostook County Commissioners approved several items and toured the county jail during their first bimonthly meeting of November at the Sheriff’s Office building.
During a public comment period, nothing was brought to the floor although a few members of the public were in attendance. Later, several contracts were presented at the Nov. 6 meeting and all three were unanimously approved. The first was a one-year agreement for ambulance service with Caribou for the township of Connor, set to begin on Jan. 1, 2014 with a cost of $5,027. The second was a one-year contract for ambulance service with Caribou for Madawaska Lake, set to begin on Jan. 1, 2014 and a cost of $1,210. The final was a snow removal contract with Oxbow Plantation for T9,R5 in the amount of $23,885.
Following the contracts, the commissioners approved a part-time dispatcher for Aroostook County and the Aroostook County Action Program, according to Beaulieu.
Beaulieu then presented a report on the status of several different projects. The first was in regard to a letter of compliance from the Maine Department of Corrections involving juveniles in custody. The next item was an update to another compliance issue that surfaced during a jail inspection at the beginning of the year. Beaulieu noted that inmate labor was used to help bring the facility back into compliance. Beaulieu then reported to the commissioners that legal counsel has been hired to assist with tax increment financing related to a proposed wind project. The choice of Erik Stumpfel of Rudman Winchell in Bangor was unanimously approved.
Beaulieu also reported the purchase of a used 2008 Yamaha side-by-side utility vehicle for the North Lakes and Rescue Department using grant funds. Next was the update to the 2014 budget with the requested changes that had been made, and as a result the tax line for the budget was less than the previous year’s budget by two tenths of a percent.
The last item was an update from Chief Deputy Darrell Crandall on his attendance at a Jail Study Commission meeting on the impact of changes to jails throughout the state as a result of a legislative resolution.
Following the meeting, the required yearly jail tour/inspection was given to the commissioners by the Sheriff James Madore and Chief Deputy Crandall.
