The Lincoln County HazMat team is no more. Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens told county commissioners Dec. 6 the team was being discontinued. The team met twice per year for training sessions, but hadn’t responded to an incident in 3.5 years. 

Stevens reported the county had administered a hazardous materials strike team since 2006. He notified local fire departments about the decision with a Nov. 23 letter. “Those members have given an enormous amount of time and effort supporting this team by responding to incidents, participating in training and exercises,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, our team is facing a decline in membership due to a lack of calls,” he wrote. “It is difficult to maintain a team for a call that may never come. The Lincoln County Decon Strike Team is dissolving effective Dec. 31.”

Stevens reported current, trained HazMat firefighters would continue training with their local departments and the county EMA would provide hazmat equipment and assist with local training. 

In other matters, commissioners unanimously approved the $12,609,500 Fiscal Year 23 county budget. County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported county spending is up 4.6%.

County Communications Director Tara Doe gave an update on the new radio tower equipment. She reported all the battery plants were installed at the towers. “They are already making a difference,” Doe said. “A windstorm happened a week and a half ago and power went out across the county. CMP lost power in locations, but our towers maintained power and service during the event.”

She also reported about two reserve communications officers’ resignations. Kyle Greene had worked as a full-time dispatcher before moving to reserve status. “At the beginning of last week, he left for boot camp, so he submitted his resignation,” she said. Commissioners also accepted a July resignation by Jennifer Gosselin, now a Boothbay Harbor police officer. 

The county has reached a favored deal for fuel oil. Kipfer reported this summer home heating oil reached $5 per gallon resulting in her decision to wait before locking into a contracted rate. “We contacted M.W. Sewall, and asked them to contact us if prices fell. They received a shipment in November and we contracted to purchase 16,000 gallons at $3.85,” she said. Commissioners voted 3-0 to accept Sewall’s offer.

The county has also received a second payment in an opioid settlement case. In February 2021, Maine, along with 47 other states, District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, reached a $573 million settlement with McKinsey & Company. The settlement resolved investigations into the company’s role in working for opioid companies by helping them promote their drugs and profiting from the opioid epidemic. 

The settlement, after payment of costs, will be used to abate problems caused by opioids in the participating states. Maine will receive $3,139,915 from the multi-state settlement. Lincoln County received its first payment of $30,365 in September. Kipfer reported, in November, the second payment, of $34,375, was received. She reported the settlement required funds be designated for specific purposes. Kipfer suggested creating a separate reserve account. Commissioners accepted her recommendation, and created a reserve account.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 in the county courthouse.