[0:00] To discuss them.

[0:01] Table 2 917.

[0:03] Anything else.

[0:05] No OK.

[0:06] Do I have a second.

[0:07] Yes poll question.

[0:09] All those in favor.

[0:10] Motion carries.

[0:10] Next consent agenda.

[0:12] Anything you want to remove.

[0:15] We don't have 86 minutes yet.

[0:18] We can't approve the abatement one, because that was just.

[0:21] That was before I was here.

[0:22] So it needs you and Tim to table that one.

[0:24] But I move.

[0:25] We approve the minutes from 716 2026.

[0:28] I have a second question.

[0:30] All those in favor.

[0:31] Motion carries.

[0:32] 2027 budget request 10 I'm going to table that until commissioner

[0:39] Parker gets here.

[0:41] Is that his name.

[0:42] Yes OK.

[0:43] Sorry why did I finish it.

[0:44] I don't know.

[0:45] All right.

[0:46] We're going to wait on that one public comment.

[0:47] Let's just go to public comment.

[0:48] What have we got.

[0:49] Anybody yep Mr. Bush.

[0:52] Good morning, Eric Bush.

[0:54] I have four items I want to touch on.

[0:57] One is the formation of the finance advisory committee.

[1:02] And just to confirm that the committee is

[1:06] subject to the same open meeting laws

[1:09] that affect the commission itself,

[1:12] and therefore the membership has not been reported officially.

[1:17] Meetings have not been posted, no agendas or minutes

[1:21] have been produced, and the charge to the committee

[1:25] has not yet been established.

[1:28] All of those things need to happen.

[1:31] Audits the 22 audit was completed in late February.

[1:36] The 23 audit was completed June the 4th.

[1:39] Neither has been presented in a public forum,

[1:43] which is really a requirement.

[1:46] The auditors ultimately have a responsibility to the community

[1:50] and to the taxpayers to assure the financial health

[1:55] of the County.

[1:56] It's not enough that they just have a conversation with you

[1:59] across the room.

[2:01] So it needs to be publicly presented somehow.

[2:06] Third department head and commission staff performance

[2:09] reviews.

[2:09] I've submitted two FOIA requests and still have

[2:13] not gotten a straight answer.

[2:16] So since January 1, 2025, when commissioners Kelly and Parker

[2:21] took office, have the commissioners conducted

[2:25] formal performance reviews of the nine

[2:28] department heads and three commission staff

[2:31] that report to you.

[2:34] That responsibility rests with the commissioners,

[2:38] since in this County, all of those individuals

[2:41] report directly to the commission will not be done.

[2:46] And finally, the 2027 budget after,

[2:50] I think we'd have to acknowledge a most unsatisfactory 3, 2026

[2:56] budget process that took seven months to complete

[3:00] and resulted in a 15% increase.

[3:03] I expected that would result in some real belt tightening

[3:07] this year, but it hasn't.

[3:10] Preliminary estimate if I heard correctly on the tape

[3:13] that I listened to over.

[3:15] The last meeting, estimates suggest

[3:18] handing off to the Budget Committee

[3:20] a budget proposal with a 22% increase.

[3:25] That's just not realistic.

[3:28] The budget should also be posted on the website.

[3:32] So as it's given to the Budget Committee,

[3:35] the public has the right to know what

[3:37] as commissioners have proposed to them before they

[3:41] go through their process.

[3:43] And one specific thing I just wanted to notice

[3:46] has to do with special appropriations.

[3:49] Earlier this year, in the last process

[3:52] I wrote that the County needed to determine

[3:57] whether in three minutes.

[3:59] Can I just finish this up real quick, please.

[4:02] Thank you.

[4:03] The County needs to determine whether it's

[4:05] in the business of supporting community organizations.

[4:09] And if it is to define what specifically it will consider

[4:13] funding and what it won't.

[4:16] And once decided that opportunity has to be made

[4:20] known to all qualifying nonprofits in Waldo County.

[4:26] It's not enough just to wait and see

[4:30] who happens to figure out, oh, I can apply to the County

[4:33] for this.

[4:34] If you're in that business, then you have a responsibility

[4:38] to make the community more broadly aware that they can

[4:41] apply if they fall into the guidelines

[4:45] that you should have established.

[4:47] But I don't believe at this point.

[4:50] And as there's 12,500in this year's budget.

[4:55] And because of what I've just said, you've got requests

[4:58] for $132,000 this year.

[5:02] So thank you.

[5:03] That needs to be.

[5:04] Thank you very much.

[5:04] Thank you.

[5:07] Any other comments.

[5:10] Can we get an answer for him on the performance review so that

[5:13] it's actually 6 and not 9:00 because they're elected

[5:17] officials.

[5:17] Elected officials don't.

[5:20] The human resources handbook does

[5:22] not apply to elected officials.

[5:23] It is 6.

[5:24] It's a work in progress.

[5:25] Thank you.

[5:28] Any other comments.

[5:30] Are you saying, though, that there discussion.

[5:32] I'm sorry, Mr. Bush.

[5:33] No discussion.

[5:34] Have there been no discussion.

[5:37] You had your three minutes.

[5:38] You haven't answered the question I did.

[5:41] You had your three minutes plus.

[5:43] Thank you.

[5:45] Anything else.

[5:47] I'm sorry for running late.

[5:48] There was traffic and rain understood school buses,

[5:51] it was literally in Unity.

[5:53] Sorry well, I am interested in this question of the Eric

[6:01] Eric's language that the audit needs

[6:04] to be in a public presentation.

[6:05] I'm curious about where that comes from because to me,

[6:09] US having a public meeting and discussing the audit

[6:12] with the auditor and having the audits available on the website,

[6:15] to me, that meets the public requirement.

[6:17] But I don't know if that's something this board

[6:22] has more information on.

[6:23] Kevin or actually the auditor did present,

[6:27] and I think it was the longest period of time

[6:29] that the auditors spent answering questions

[6:32] in the history of the County.

[6:33] I think it was over close to 44 minutes.

[6:35] So to me, that feels like it satisfies the it

[6:38] satisfies the requirements.

[6:40]

[6:43] Anything else, Commissioner No, let's move on.

[6:46]

[6:50] I know some of these are going to take some time.

[6:52] Let's go.

[6:52] North port tower discussion.

[6:54] Mike, what have you got.

[6:55]

[7:02] Thanks yeah.

[7:04] Good morning sir.

[7:05] Just identify yourself so that we can get you on record.

[7:08] Thank you, Jonathan Ward, Lincolnville fire department.

[7:13] We know Mike actually look that way.

[7:16] Lincolnville fire department chief, thank you for coming.

[7:19] So I was approached by Lakeville fire department asking

[7:21] for permission to utilize our North Port

[7:24] tower for their local frequency that they use

[7:30] for on scene communications.

[7:34] I asked them to come here and present that to you

[7:37] folks to make a decision.

[7:39] Before we even get into any of the logistics or any of that.

[7:44] So any of you guys want to state the purpose and all that stuff.

[7:47] And sure.

[7:48] So very basically in this area we

[7:51] rely on radio repeaters, basically mountaintop

[7:54] transmitters, to allow for coverage over the various hills

[7:58] and valleys.

[7:59] Waldo County EMA has given a surplus

[8:05] repeater unit, which is very serviceable to the Lincolnville

[8:08] fire department.

[8:09] And the idea for that it was given with the intent

[8:14] that it would be set up on the South Tower,

[8:17] that the Point Lookout tower.

[8:20] And that existing frequencies for which

[8:23] Lincolnville fire is licensed would be

[8:26] used to bring that repeater up.

[8:30] If that were the case, it would not only benefit our department

[8:36] being located in North Port.

[8:37] North port would also be able to use it

[8:40] and one of the areas of coverage,

[8:43] which is hitherto escaped us, has been on the seaward side

[8:48] of Camden Hills State Park and within the park itself,

[8:51] and we feel that looking.

[8:53] I've done some surveys, both aerial and ground,

[8:57] and looking at that location, we should

[9:00] be able to pick up coverage in the park, which Lincolnville

[9:03] fire covers for rescues, which another organization,

[9:09] coastal mountain search and rescue, which I'm a part also

[9:14] utilizes.

[9:15] So it would not only be Lincolnville benefit,

[9:17] there would be several agencies in the County.

[9:21] Did you have any communications issues in the Robins incident.

[9:26] Were you.

[9:27] I don't know if you got I think you responded.

[9:29] Oh yeah.

[9:29] Yeah Donnie and I were 10 feet from the silo when it went.

[9:33] Really actually, yeah.

[9:34] Thank you for responding.

[9:36] Thank you.

[9:37] Generally speaking, I think communications

[9:39] were communication solid fairly well.

[9:44] Up in the helicopter trying to communicate.

[9:47] I don't think there was any real easy way to communicate, back

[9:49] to command.

[9:50] And that was really the only big problem

[9:52] we had was trying to do a size up from the air to let command

[9:56] know what we had going on, but no real big communication

[10:00] problems.

[10:01] Just a lot of people in one spot using very few frequencies

[10:05] was the only real big issue.

[10:06] But OK, reception was fine.

[10:09] So you've got so this is just to strengthen your signal

[10:12] or is it dead spots.

[10:15] But both so, so dead spots down in the valleys of Lincolnville.

[10:19] We definitely have some dead spots.

[10:21] We got some issues there.

[10:22] The other thing is it's important to have

[10:24] discrete frequencies for the individual departments.

[10:27] The responsibility of dispatch is basically

[10:29] to get the information out there to us respond to this location.

[10:34] But we can't stay on that frequency,

[10:36] nor can other departments when they have large incidents,

[10:39] because it would tend to clog up basically the radio

[10:43] equivalent of a 911 system.

[10:45] So we did have those frequencies set up in a low elevation

[10:51] scenario in Lincolnville, which worked

[10:53] OK, but not well in places.

[10:55] And this would get the elevation up.

[10:57] What about weather.

[10:59] Anything if you get the tower, will that help

[11:02] increase any weather issues like whiteouts or something

[11:06] like that or.

[11:07] I mean, any anytime radio antenna is higher.

[11:11] That's generally better.

[11:13] What I do appreciate having looked at the site up

[11:16] there is, of course, there's a very professional installation

[11:19] on Point Lookout generator backup,

[11:21] great shelter for the transmitter

[11:23] and a very, very solid tower.

[11:26] So that's good to hear a little bit of history

[11:27] with Lincolnville.

[11:28] They were dispatched by Knox County for a long time

[11:31] and came back over to us because of that tower,

[11:35] because of the coverage.

[11:36] They weren't getting the necessary the necessary coverage

[11:40] they needed through Knox County.

[11:43] So putting this their antenna next to ours

[11:47] would give them pretty good coverage

[11:49] throughout Lincolnville.

[11:50] I don't think you guys have any dead spots now.

[11:52] Really we have no dead spots.

[11:53] Yeah that's why the desire is to move up.

[11:55] So what do you recommend, Mike.

[11:58] Like I said in the email that I had sent you was,

[12:03] I think if they work with and I don't know who your radio vendor

[12:07] is, but from my standpoint, I'd like

[12:09] to see if we'd go forward with this if they work with r.c.m.

[12:12] Yeah, absolutely.

[12:14] Because they've done our whole system and I just want it

[12:17] all standardized.

[12:18] Makes sense.

[12:20] I suggest that depending on the frequency

[12:22] that they work with r.c.m to get into our combiner and so

[12:27] and explain the combiner.

[12:29] So combiner is what we call cans.

[12:31] They are these round cylindrical cans this big around that long.

[12:35] And they're stacked from floor to floor, 5 feet high.

[12:38] And what that does is that allows us to have all

[12:41] of our radio frequencies with two antennas on the tower, one

[12:45] transmit, one receive, and the combiner filters out

[12:48] all the different frequencies.

[12:50] And basically you can have a law enforcement person talking

[12:55] and a fired person talking on one radio system,

[12:59] and it knows to filter everything

[13:00] out and put it to the right.

[13:02] Good thank you.

[13:03] So there's a couple of different options.

[13:06] One is to put in the combiner.

[13:08] Then all it is in work inside the building.

[13:12] No tower work.

[13:14] The second option would be to put a new antenna on the tower,

[13:18] which then they'd have.

[13:19] We'd have to get a structural analysis on the tower

[13:21] to make sure it can support it.

[13:23] Put an antenna up, pay for a climber,

[13:25] run cabling and then do the install in the building.

[13:29] And then the third option, if it would work,

[13:31] would be to put an antenna on the building itself.

[13:33] If that would give them coverage.

[13:35] I don't know if it would.

[13:36] They'd have to do some testing to see if that was sufficient

[13:38] or not.

[13:39] So what do you recommend.

[13:39] I recommend working with RCM and putting them right

[13:42] into the combiner, as long as it doesn't create

[13:43] any interference on the form.

[13:45] That sounds like a good first step.

[13:47] Yeah OK.

[13:48] This is no charge.

[13:49] Correct yeah.

[13:51] This charge.

[13:53] Yeah, we paid for that.

[13:54] Yeah, but this is no charge ongoing for the Lincoln fire

[13:57] department.

[13:58] That's the point.

[13:59] I want to stress.

[14:00] I don't see a reason to be charging the fire.

[14:01] Department of Health and safety.

[14:04] As far as I'm concerned, yeah.

[14:05] Questions what was your thoughts.

[14:09] What was your thoughts.

[14:10] Ideas on this.

[14:12] Did we talk to their fire department.

[14:14] I did not talk to Paul at all about it.

[14:16] I figured we'd come to you guys first to see

[14:18] if it was even something that would be allowed to pursue.

[14:21] And then the only reason why I bring it up,

[14:24] and I stay away from fire departments

[14:26] because everybody has their own.

[14:28] I get it, I get it.

[14:31] So, I just.

[14:34] I mean, I'm OK with the idea of it,

[14:35] but I don't want to step on anybody's toes.

[14:37] Well, one of the things we would do

[14:40] once we got that up and running is go to poll basically

[14:43] and say, hey, here are the frequencies.

[14:45] Jump on.

[14:47] Because yeah, it's in their town.

[14:49] And I will say that having been in the fire service

[14:52] for over 30 years, the cooperation between departments

[14:56] is rising.

[14:57] Every agency has to be.

[14:59] Yeah especially on the volunteer ones.

[15:01] Absolutely the more you work together, the better.

[15:04] Yeah Because one other question I have is

[15:07] if you guys approved this, would it be OK for us to share

[15:11] the frequency with the State Park

[15:14] so that their employees could have this frequency

[15:17] to be able for, as well as share it with Camden fire department,

[15:21] because we also share that State Park.

[15:24] Yeah, Lincolnville is over half of it.

[15:26] Camden has the other part of it.

[15:29] And then the State Park.

[15:30] That's a good question, but that's about I mean,

[15:32] I'm all for it, but that's because I want to do

[15:34] dispatching in Knox County.

[15:36] So I want to make money.

[15:38] Yeah I just think if we can share it,

[15:41] it will benefit everybody.

[15:42] And there's a lot.

[15:43] What do you.

[15:43] What do you think, Mike.

[15:44] So I was just going to say this right now,

[15:46] the County has what we call common channels.

[15:48] We have four of them.

[15:50] CC 1 through CC four.

[15:52] One is located in Frankfort, one in Knox, one in liberty

[15:57] and one here in Belfast.

[15:59] We don't have one that covers down that part of the County.

[16:03] So this as long as Lincolnville owns the equipment,

[16:06] they own the actual license to the frequency.

[16:10] And my thought is, if they're willing to open it up

[16:12] a little bit further to some of the surrounding departments

[16:15] as a working channel, as long as it doesn't interfere if they

[16:18] have a fire because they would be primary on it, then

[16:21] I have no problem with that because that

[16:22] would be great for that area.

[16:24] So who owns the frequency.

[16:25] They will own the frequency.

[16:26] We'll have a license.

[16:28] So that would be a decision for you I think.

[16:31] Not for us to overstep our bounds and get into.

[16:34] We're basically giving them a place

[16:35] situation a place on our radio.

[16:38] Yeah so Commissioner you had some comments or questions.

[16:40] No that just makes sense to me that it's

[16:42] sort of like they're like intellectual property,

[16:44] so to speak, versus we help with the physical plant.

[16:47] Yeah, yeah.

[16:49] So yes.

[16:50] Is there any additional costs on the County side if we do this.

[16:54] No OK.

[16:57] So I'll entertain a motion to approve and move forward.

[17:00] So moved.

[17:01] At first I have a second.

[17:02] Second the only last thing is just keep us posted.

[17:06] If there's issues.

[17:08] Some you never know with issues like this.

[17:10] If something else is going to pop up, just keep us posted.

[17:13] Any more discussion.

[17:14] Hearing none.

[17:15] Call the question.

[17:15] All those in favor.

[17:16] Motion carries unanimous.

[17:17] Thank you very much for your service.

[17:18] Thank you very much for responding to Robins fire, too.

[17:21] Thank you.

[17:21] You're very welcome.

[17:22] Thanks Thank you.

[17:23] Commissioners yeah.

[17:24] Next on the agenda, East Northport.

[17:30] Go back.

[17:31] Excuse me.

[17:32] Go back.

[17:32]

[17:36] Yes, sir.

[17:36] Yes, ma'am.

[17:37] Yes, ma'am.

[17:38] Could we please take Jerry Merrill next because she

[17:40] has another meeting to go to.

[17:42] Sure you can step forward.

[17:44] Thank you.

[17:45] Thanks, Barb.

[17:46] Thank you.

[17:47] Barbara Sherri Merrill, executive director.

[17:53] Thank you.

[17:55] So I think we wanted to bring you back because Commissioner

[17:57] Parker stepped out before, but we

[17:58] wanted to make sure that we all heard your request

[18:01] and to make sure that the budget process that everybody has heard

[18:06] by all three commissioners, especially

[18:08] under the appropriations.

[18:09]

[18:13] Act is this time to take our meds.

[18:17] No, I'm just kidding you.

[18:18] That's right.

[18:19] So go ahead.

[18:19] So your request originally was for how much $50,000 $3,000.

[18:26] It's our first request in more than six years to the County.

[18:32] We are.

[18:33] Last year, we served over 8,200 people in the County,

[18:38] which is more than 20% of the County population.

[18:42] Was the population.

[18:43] It was 8,000.

[18:45] We served more than 8,200.

[18:47] It was close to 8,300 for the population of Waldo County

[18:53] was 40,000 plus last year.

[18:57] I went over all the programs.

[18:59] If you want me to continue to go over that again.

[19:02] Oh, yeah.

[19:03] Sure OK.

[19:04] So we run the Belfast soup kitchen five days

[19:07] a week, Monday through Friday.

[19:09] We're serving 400 meals a day out of there.

[19:12] We offer inside dining, takeout and curbside.

[19:16] And then we also have a County wide delivery program touching

[19:20] all four corners of the County.

[19:22] We're delivering to about 150 households a week.

[19:26] Through that delivery program, and then every other week,

[19:29] we are delivering food boxes to those people

[19:33] who qualify in the kindness community market.

[19:39] We have seen a 54% increase in families utilizing

[19:43] the market since January.

[19:46] At this point, we have spent 84% of our food budget for the year

[19:51] already.

[19:52] Are you calendar or fiscal calendar.

[19:54] Calendar calendar.

[19:57] Do you still get food from our garden.

[20:00] We are getting food from the garden.

[20:02] Yes what I said last time that I was here

[20:06] is that there is not the quantity.

[20:08] There used to be, because Dale is concentrating on the quality.

[20:12] And that makes a lot more sense, because when

[20:14] I got zucchinis this big, the only place

[20:17] they were going to the big.

[20:19] So we're not getting as much as we used to out of there.

[20:22] Which is fine because it's more usable.

[20:26] I would say 25% of what we used to get is what we're getting.

[20:30] So let me just back up to the County Constitution.

[20:36] So do you measure in poundage or is it just all our donations

[20:41] that we take in are measured in pounds,

[20:43] and then it's converted to dollar amount by the Feeding

[20:47] America, whatever their amount.

[20:50] Whatever the calculation is for this year.

[20:53] So the poundage.

[20:53] Do you know the poundage offhand from the County

[20:55] guide and previous versus not.

[20:57] I do not.

[20:58] OK I'm going to say last year it was less than 500 pounds.

[21:02] 500 pounds and I know way less than that.

[21:04] How many staff do you have.

[21:06] Current well, I'm supposed to have four staff.

[21:11] And we were going to hire another part time staff,

[21:15] so that would have been five plus myself.

[21:18] I had now have two vacancies.

[21:20] So right now I'm operating with three staff.

[21:23] Should be at six.

[21:24] We should be at six.

[21:25] And does one of those six.

[21:27] Are they responsible for the transportation.

[21:30] Yes I have a delivery manager and we have our own truck.

[21:34] Just one.

[21:35] Just one.

[21:35] So we are serving about 400 families.

[21:46] Families a week in the kindness community market.

[21:50] And through the food box delivery.

[21:53] So 400 meals a day, 400 families a week.

[21:55] And the kindness community market yesterday we saw 123

[21:59] go through there.

[22:01] I know you run a great organization over there.

[22:03] I've actually visited.

[22:05] I actually had lunch.

[22:06] It's a great organization without question.

[22:08] I don't think anybody can do it better.

[22:10] And I visited a lot of food shelters in my career.

[22:13] So besides those programs, we also have six help yourself

[22:18] shelves in main health offices across Waldo County

[22:23] to meet people where they are.

[22:24] So we stocked dry goods and produce in those areas,

[22:28] and people can access those when they go to their regular doctor

[22:31] appointments.

[22:32] We also do a backpack and food pantry program in RSU 20.

[22:38] So on the weekends, we send home two

[22:40] breakfast, three lunch dinners for identified K

[22:43] through five students.

[22:45] And then we operate a pantry hygiene closet

[22:48] in the middle high school that students

[22:50] can access throughout the week.

[22:52] We are going to be duplicating that starting next week

[22:56] in RSU 71.

[22:58] So we will have a backpack program K

[23:00] through five in their elementary schools and a.

[23:02]

[23:05] Food pantries, hygiene closet in the middle school

[23:07] and the high school.

[23:08] And then in both locations we will be distributing produce

[23:12] free produce twice a month, the first and third week

[23:16] of every month, and anybody can access that.

[23:19] And we typically distribute about 2,400 pounds at that time.

[23:25] We have the freezers out at the Waldo County tech center that we

[23:31] have shared with the other 19 food pantries in Waldo County

[23:35] for the last six years, not charging them anything

[23:38] and allowing them to store goods there to distribute

[23:42] in the name of hunger relief.

[23:45] I'm trying to think, what else if I'm missing anything.

[23:48] We now have the community health hub,

[23:50] so we have several different agencies in there

[23:52] so that when people need assistance,

[23:55] we don't have to send them to another agency.

[23:57] We're now getting representation from the other agencies.

[24:00] On site.

[24:02] Community health workers are connecting people

[24:05] with medical resources, and we have community paramedicine

[24:10] through a referral program that can actually do wound care.

[24:17] Medication management, those types

[24:19] of things when people don't have a primary care physician.

[24:23] Really Yes.

[24:25] And who's doing the wound care.

[24:26] Just curious.

[24:27] Who do you who's Debbie Heath.

[24:29] She an RN, LPN.

[24:32] Debbie is a paramedic.

[24:33] Paramedic?

[24:34] OK.

[24:34] Good, good.

[24:35] Yeah, I was actually certified wound care.

[24:37] That's the reason I was.

[24:38] It's through.

[24:38] It's through community.

[24:39] Paramedicine so here's a left field question for you.

[24:46] If Penobscot community health center, they're in the news.

[24:49] They're three million short.

[24:51] If they cut back services how is it going to affect you here.

[24:55] What kind of services do you get from PCA.

[24:58] Now we're still in discussion with PCHC.

[25:01] So most of our services right now

[25:04] are provided through mainehealth, Maine Health,

[25:06] Maine Health, new seasons.

[25:07] We have the mobile methadone unit there three days a week

[25:11] Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

[25:13] We have the public health nurse there on Wednesdays.

[25:16] Community health workers options.

[25:19] Sweetser we have a variety of other agencies, so.

[25:22] But you'll still take some type of impact

[25:24] from it if they reduce their services.

[25:27] Absolutely yeah, absolutely.

[25:29] Other questions.

[25:32] Oh, yeah, I got some.

[25:34] I'm doing the math.

[25:35]

[25:39] Oh, just give me a second.

[25:41] I just want to make sure I have the right number

[25:43] before I present this.

[25:45] My only comments are related to special appropriations

[25:48] funding in general.

[25:49] So I don't know.

[25:50] We'll discuss that as part of this

[25:51] or later on in the budget discussion today.

[25:58] So I wanted to make this as fair as possible

[26:02] before I presented it, because I did not

[26:05] want to be one town versus a different town

[26:07] because of the last time we did special appropriation

[26:09] conversations.

[26:11] This is not a town.

[26:13] Remember, this is not just Belfast.

[26:15] The entire County.

[26:16] I'm aware.

[26:17] OK, but we had another special appropriation

[26:20] that did provide for multiple districts throughout the County.

[26:23] So again, I'm going to try to be fair before I make this

[26:26] presentation based off of your $50,000 that you're requesting,

[26:32] if you were to break it down, it's about

[26:34] $1.23 off of our population.

[26:40] If you go off of 2020 census, you're looking at 39,607 people.

[26:44] If you look at AI'S projection, as of 2026,

[26:47] you're looking at 40,693.

[26:50] So I went off of the eye for 26, which brings it down to $1.23.

[26:56] So for $1.23 per person.

[27:02] And that's not including gas transportation, labor

[27:07] we're able to service almost a fourth of the population

[27:11] here in Waldo County.

[27:14] Correct Correct.

[27:15] All right.

[27:16] And those are unduplicated numbers.

[27:18] And again, that's $1.23.

[27:20] And I'm not factoring any kind of taxes, payroll,

[27:23] gas, transportation, vehicle breakdowns,

[27:27] buying of the vehicle.

[27:29] And of course, the processing of the food from when

[27:32] they get it to the table.

[27:34] So just wanted to clarify that.

[27:36] We're talking about $1.23 without all those subtractions

[27:40] to that dollar.

[27:43] Any other discussion.

[27:46] Do you want to hold a motion until we get to the budget.

[27:50] She has a meeting to attend.

[27:52] Or do you want to put a motion on the table.

[27:55] Which do you prefer.

[27:57]

[27:59] I wouldn't put a motion on the table now.

[28:01] I'd discuss it later.

[28:02] But you want to discuss later.

[28:05] How is that any different than the other special appropriations

[28:08] that we did.

[28:10] That's the reason I'm asking the question.

[28:11] Yeah you're welcome to put a motion.

[28:13] OK yeah.

[28:14] I mean, I'll make a motion that we approve the $50,000 a second.

[28:19] Second for discussion, second for discussion.

[28:21] Discussion I'm not going to be voting in favor of it.

[28:25] I have been thinking about special appropriations

[28:28] for the last couple of weeks since we first started having

[28:31] these conversations, and I just keep coming back to the idea

[28:37] that we currently have a spending freeze on anything over

[28:41] $1,000, that we have a hiring freeze that we have,

[28:46] as a very similar budget challenge that we had last year.

[28:51] And for me, I want to revisit special appropriations

[28:56] in general, because I don't think that we should be making

[28:58] donations to organizations when we can't pay our own Bills,

[29:02] no matter how wonderful the return on investment is.

[29:06] It's not personal to any of the organizations.

[29:09] I just don't think that the County is

[29:11] financially in a position to be making

[29:14] donations to organizations.

[29:16] Or you could call it an investment in an organization.

[29:18] It's a good investment.

[29:19] We just don't in my opinion, have the money to do it.

[29:22] So I'm not going to be in favor.

[29:25] I completely disagree.

[29:27] I look at it completely the other way.

[29:29] I think that for the return of the investment of all

[29:32] the things that I just listed, I mean,

[29:34] we're already doing a garden.

[29:37] This garden is already invested in this organization.

[29:40] This isn't just an organization that popped up overnight.

[29:43] This organization works with all the food pantries

[29:46] all over all of the towns.

[29:47] Which is why in the beginning of my presentation, I said,

[29:50] I'm not going to target one town or the other

[29:52] because all populations of each town is different.

[29:55] There was an argument that was made back in 2024

[29:59] about this same type of issue, different special appropriation,

[30:02] that for every dollar you spend get $10 back.

[30:07] I just strongly disagree.

[30:08] I mean, I think that we should those 8,000

[30:13] plus families in Waldo County can

[30:16] access that market once a week.

[30:19] So they're not just coming once.

[30:20] They're coming back weekly, they're

[30:23] getting they can shop just like they shop in the grocery store.

[30:26] It's a three day supplement.

[30:29] And like I said, we've seen a 54% increase in utilization

[30:33] since January.

[30:34] And come October, that number is going to climb even higher.

[30:37] When families are facing the fact that they have to put fuel

[30:40] oil to heat their homes and continue to put gas

[30:43] in their cars to get to work, and that's where the breakdown

[30:47] ends up is with food.

[30:49] Well, I appreciate you saying that because that's

[30:51] what I was getting to because this isn't just a $1.23.

[30:55] They come get food.

[30:57] This is we're coming to you.

[30:59] We have a vehicle.

[31:01] Some of these people can't get to where you're at,

[31:03] and this affects the people that need

[31:07] it the most in our community.

[31:11] And I want to reiterate that we do not

[31:12] take state or federal money.

[31:14] Yes, we do participate in the program

[31:16] that comes to us in the form of free food from Good Shepherd.

[31:20] All the other food we're getting from Good Shepherd,

[31:22] we're purchasing.

[31:24] We are working with partners across the County

[31:27] to get donated foods and Hannaford and the Belfast co-op.

[31:31] But we do not take federal funds or state

[31:34] funds because they tend to restrict us in who we can serve.

[31:37] And the Belfast soup kitchen prides itself

[31:39] on serving anybody who needs the assistance I

[31:42] agree with that point totally.

[31:44] I've been down that road hundreds of times.

[31:48] I struggle, I hear both sides of the arguments

[31:52] and sometimes I sit-in the middle to break the tie.

[31:56] I struggle with the amount.

[31:57] It's not the concept, it's the amount in the financial position

[32:00] that the County is in right now.

[32:03] Understood funding.

[32:07] And I go back to this might be a bad comparison,

[32:10] but I go back to some of the opioid funding FTEs.

[32:14] I get concerned because after a year

[32:16] that funding goes away, typically in trying to fund

[32:19] that full time equivalent employee gets difficult

[32:23] because you're trying to find out the revenue

[32:25] stream to support that service.

[32:27] So I'm not in favor of funding an FTE.

[32:32] However, I would like to us to finish up the budget process.

[32:36] We're still muddling through the budget process,

[32:39] trying to figure out where we're at as a County before we

[32:42] present to the Budget Committee.

[32:45] And so for me personally, I don't want to say no, totally.

[32:50] But I want to say no.

[32:51] I want to say no to funding FTE.

[32:54] It's just it's a stretch in this budget last year.

[32:59] I'm not asking you to fund any of my personnel.

[33:02] I'm asking you to fund food when I'm at.

[33:05] When at the end of July, I had reached

[33:08] 85% of my purchasing budget because of the number of people

[33:12] that are coming.

[33:13] So the heating oil right now, I checked last week is $5.16.

[33:17] So I'm shopping for heating oil to

[33:19] and it's all dependent upon the environment, what's

[33:22] going on internationally.

[33:23] And it's going to be another tough year

[33:27] trying to figure that out.

[33:28] And I'm even looking at my wood supply too.

[33:30] So it's affecting everybody across the board,

[33:34] not only those that have the higher

[33:36] need, but those that have a lesser need type of situation.

[33:40] Whether they're financial position

[33:42] is a little bit different.

[33:43] So any more discussion.

[33:45] I deliver firewood or whatever you do.

[33:48] It's good to know.

[33:49] I just want to say I am happy with any part

[33:52] of an appropriation that the County can give us

[33:56] because as I said, this is the first time

[33:58] we've asked in a long time.

[34:00] I was discouraged from asking for,

[34:03] but we are serving the population of Waldo County,

[34:07] so I've been homeless.

[34:08] Sherry so and I've never forgotten

[34:10] it for 3 and 1/2 months living in the wood at 17.

[34:14] To this day, I still stock canned goods.

[34:17] To this day, my wife doesn't allow me to go down the canned

[34:19] goods section if she's with me.

[34:21] So I totally get it when you're hungry, that's the number

[34:25] one priority, period.

[34:27] There's nothing else on your mind any more.

[34:30] Discussion?

[34:31] hearing none.

[34:32] Call the question so the motion is read it

[34:34] back to us to approve $50,000.

[34:39] OK, so before you call the question,

[34:42] is there a number that you could live with.

[34:45] I want to look at the total budget.

[34:46] Before we present and revisit, I think that's the fair thing

[34:51] to be saying for me right now.

[34:54] Because not only do we have that,

[34:56] but our heating costs and everything

[34:59] are going up, for the County.

[35:01] And here's one other caveat to a lot of people.

[35:04] I sat down with the County clerk and filled out

[35:06] a survey for the National Association of counties.

[35:12] Association nationally looking at the services

[35:15] that the County provides and the litany of the list

[35:19] that they had on there and trying to figure out why

[35:22] aren't we providing more services to the County.

[35:25] And it's disturbing.

[35:27] And trying to figure out how to do it.

[35:28] And this would be fiscally responsible at the same time

[35:31] as the other question.

[35:32] So I encourage the other two commissioners

[35:36] to look at the survey that was submitted and put

[35:40] on our thinking hats, just where do we need to go for the future.

[35:43] And I think that's the big question.

[35:45] So any more discussion.

[35:48] Hearing none.

[35:49] Call the question.

[35:50] All those in favor.

[35:51] All those opposed.

[35:53] Motion fails.

[35:54] Thank you.

[35:55] Thank you very much.

[35:56] And I really do.

[35:57] We really do appreciate what your organization

[35:59] is doing over there.

[36:00] Thank you.

[36:01] It's a struggle for us, too.

[36:02] I know that I know that.

[36:03] Thank you.

[36:04] Thank you.

[36:06] So that one.

[36:09] Barb, do we need to go to the contracts first for the opioid,

[36:12] or is that part of a report.

[36:16] I think you can.

[36:17] It's not part of the report.

[36:19] It's an old business.

[36:20] Old business Yes All right, so we'll go down.

[36:23] War bonds there.

[36:24]

[36:27] All right.

[36:28] Let's go to executive session.

[36:29] A discussion of general government labor contract

[36:31] negotiation pursuant to Mrs. Subchapter one 405 60.

[36:38] Let me know when we're off record.

[36:40] Thank you.

[36:40]

[36:50] Is that firewood.

[36:51] You can say, oh, I was just asked to give it to you.

[36:55]

[37:03] Any time.

[37:03] Chris quick.

[37:06] It should be quick.

[37:07] Not even a minute.

[37:08]

[37:12] It's possible.

[37:14] So be back on board.

[37:15] I take it.

[37:16] Yes OK.

[37:18] So, Colin, we're out of executive session.

[37:22] No motions required.

[37:25] No action taken.

[37:27] This is September 3, 2026, and we're continuing the County

[37:31] commissioner's court session.

[37:33] So, Chris, I'll put you right up so we can put on the table

[37:38] what you've got real quick.

[37:39]

[37:43] Good morning, commissioners.

[37:44] How are you.

[37:45] Good morning.

[37:46] I just want to get your permission

[37:48] to pay this fuel bill.

[37:50] The fuel.

[37:51] The propane tank up at the Sheriff's Office.

[37:55] It needed 966 gallons.

[37:58] So that cost us $1,661.69.

[38:03] And I just wanted to get permission that I

[38:04] can go ahead and code it.

[38:05] How are we doing with budgeting on this line item for the year.

[38:10] How's it looking.

[38:11] So with this one, this takes us almost right up

[38:16] to hopefully we'll get one more fuel bill for this building

[38:22] where it's August or September now.

[38:26] But we're this was a big one.

[38:28] This was a big fail right here.

[38:30] But I mean, do you think that line item will

[38:33] exceed by the end of the year, or do you

[38:34] it'll be on target or under.

[38:36] If I can have an educated guess, I would say

[38:37] it probably go a little over.

[38:39] Yes OK.

[38:39] It will go over this a little bit.

[38:41] This line item.

[38:44] We obviously they haven't filled it

[38:47] since probably March or February or March

[38:51] and that's lasted until now.

[38:52] And what was the amount again, Chris.

[38:56] How many gallons.

[38:58] No the dollar amount.

[38:59] The dollar amount. $1,661.69 but this is also included.

[39:06] This price, to be fair, is now that new contract that we

[39:10] had negotiated for $0.10 more.

[39:13] Because that contract expires in May of every year.

[39:17] But whereas this time around, we signed the we got the same price

[39:21] for the next two years.

[39:22] So next year's budget line next year is I was able to get

[39:26] a solid number with the $0.10 more per gallon,

[39:28] because that's what we have signed up for.

[39:32] OK, so I'll entertain a motion to approve that.

[39:36] So moved.

[39:37] Second but first I have a second.

[39:40] So any more discussion.

[39:42] Hearing none.

[39:43] Call the call a question.

[39:44] Motion carries.

[39:46] Next, Chris.

[39:47] That's it.

[39:47] That was it.

[39:48] That was it.

[39:48] Thank you very much.

[39:50] Appreciate it.

[39:51] I'm sorry. $1,661.69 thank you very much.

[39:57] Have a good day, commissioners.

[39:58] Thank you.

[40:00] Finance report.

[40:02] What do we got.

[40:03] Oh, I got all kinds of things.

[40:05]

[40:12] Oh, I would like to approach the bench

[40:17] to give you an email requesting some funds

[40:21] that you should review.

[40:25] I personally am not looking for a decision today on this.

[40:30]

[40:49] And if I could, is there a reason

[40:50] the Department doesn't want to come

[40:52] and present to the commission.

[40:53] I got the email.

[40:54] I'm happy to bounce back and say that the commissioners

[40:57] would like you to present.

[41:00] What do you think.

[41:01] It was budgeted.

[41:02] I don't know that that's OK.

[41:05] I mean, $17,000.

[41:09] I'm pulling up that line item in last year's budget,

[41:14] said department 1050.

[41:18] Well, I mean fuel one also was budgeted and Chris came.

[41:22] Yeah correct.

[41:23] I appreciate that.

[41:24] Based off the motion that was made a few weeks ago,

[41:26] that anything over $1,000 had to be

[41:28] approved by the commissioners.

[41:30] Yeah, I just didn't know that meant in person.

[41:33] That's all.

[41:35] Although I appreciate in person.

[41:37] I just.

[41:37]

[41:40] But I do think that at the next meeting,

[41:43] the Sheriff and the deputy are going

[41:44] to be here anyways for the license plate reader discussion.

[41:47] So we'll table this.

[41:48] OK let's table, we'll table this request until 917.

[41:58] Great all right.

[42:01] So my presentation today is other than warrants primarily

[42:06] discussion regarding the finance advisory committee Owen

[42:10] presented at the last meeting.

[42:12] What was going on.

[42:14] And this past meeting, we wrapped up with our account

[42:18] consolidation on our reserves.

[42:21] We've been looking at what to consolidate,

[42:25] reviewing the language and tightening

[42:28] up that language a little bit.

[42:31] It's been a good activity for us.

[42:34] Great discussion.

[42:36] And the value that they add to this has been amazing.

[42:41] I gave packets which are in front of each of you,

[42:44] and I would just like to start off by saying,

[42:48] in our capital reserves we had 10 accounts.

[42:51] We reduced those to five accounts

[42:53] with our active reserves.

[42:55] We had eight reserve accounts, we reduced that

[42:58] to three accounts, and we reduced six jail reserve

[43:02] accounts to two accounts.

[43:05] With past and current changes.

[43:08] We have, we have and will be eliminating a total

[43:12] of 14 account reserve accounts.

[43:14]

[43:20] So we're going to go to facility is already done.

[43:24] Correct facilities you'll see County facilities is done.

[43:28] You have County technology which was

[43:30] completed County severance and then

[43:33] County disaster response team.

[43:36] And I'm going to go over the accounts that have been changed.

[43:39] When this is all done, Carrie, we're going to have one, 2,

[43:44] 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 reserve accounts.

[43:48] You'll have 5' 8.

[43:53] Were you counting.

[43:54] 910 10 OK.

[44:03] All right.

[44:05] All right.

[44:06] And so the State Auditor refresh my memory.

[44:10] They approved the consolidation of the reserve accounts,

[44:13] but they don't approve the language.

[44:15] Correct That is correct.

[44:16] They're what they're doing is they're seeing

[44:19] this is the change that the commissioners would

[44:20] like to present.

[44:21] Does that align with their statute statutes and whatever.

[44:27] Whatever's and.

[44:30] Then if they approve based on what we're presenting,

[44:33] they send it back to us, and then you

[44:35] can tighten up that language.

[44:36] You can add your targets up to those reserves as well.

[44:41] So we originally started with how many reserve accounts.

[44:43] All in I think it was.

[44:45]

[44:48] 44 accounts.

[44:49] All 44 accounts.

[44:51] We're going to go down to 10.

[44:53] Yes Do you need a motion to on this for the State Auditor.

[45:03] No, because I have more than I need to discuss.

[45:05] So changes that have been made.

[45:11] Talking with the finance advisory committee.

[45:16] We have consolidated the grant matching federal audit reserve

[45:22] and the economic development reserve into one account

[45:28] that we're changing the name to economic development

[45:31] and grant reserve.

[45:33] There is a large spreadsheet.

[45:36] You'll see that it's in highlight.

[45:37] It's highlighted yellow.

[45:39] And we've updated the language.

[45:42]

[45:45] The equipment service.

[45:49] Reserve equipment services reserve.

[45:53] It was recommended to move that into County technology

[45:57] reserve which already exists.

[46:01] And then with our Mc restricted reserve,

[46:06] technology improvement inmate reserve and capital reserve

[46:11] improvement that was consolidated

[46:14] into the revitalization reserve.

[46:17] In addition, it was recommended that we

[46:19] change the name of the revitalization

[46:23] and recommended to rename it Mc inmate housing cost reserve.

[46:29] The language also was changed, revised

[46:32] to include some language that was with the reserves

[46:36] that we closed.

[46:38] The Sheriff and the chief also reviewed that language

[46:43] and made a good note to include inmate medical on that.

[46:48] So you have that language there as well.

[46:50]

[46:53] Oh, and we also updated our County

[46:56] disaster response language to include emergency response.

[47:03] What about the proposed targets that you've got on there.

[47:06] Can you comment on those.

[47:09] The proposed targets for what was the grant

[47:14] matching federal audit which.

[47:18] We just combined pretty much what was in the two accounts

[47:21] together and left that as our target.

[47:24] No rhyme nor reason behind it.

[47:27] The disaster.

[47:29] They looked at the Finance Committee, looked at what

[47:32] was in there right now, and just said, well,

[47:33] why don't we put it in here.

[47:35] And then revitalization, we just currently

[47:38] combined all the reserves that we were closing into that one.

[47:43] And then we looked at what our housing

[47:45] cost was and took a third of that to make that our target.

[47:51] Do you think the County looking back at the County and County

[47:54] disaster response, the consolidation of those two,

[47:57] the $120,000 is sufficient.

[48:00] We're not adding severance into County disaster response.

[48:03] We're not.

[48:04] No OK.

[48:04] But I think right now 120 is for disaster, for disasters.

[48:10] That's pretty close to what's in there anyways.

[48:12] And then the other.

[48:13]

[48:16] The other thing I want to bring up

[48:17] is there was a lot of discussion around County severance,

[48:21] and how we should not have that as a reserve

[48:23] any longer, as we are having to go and ask for funds

[48:26] and maybe County severance should become

[48:28] an expense line moving forward.

[48:33] Makes sense to me.

[48:35] May I make a comment.

[48:36] Sure Just so all the commissioners we

[48:43] spent a little bit of our organizational meeting

[48:47] looking at reserves.

[48:49] We spent the entire second meeting working on reserves,

[48:55] and then we spent probably half of the third meeting

[48:59] finalizing the reserves.

[49:02] And the advisory committee had all of the paperwork

[49:05] that Carrie put together.

[49:07] And I'm not tooting my own horn, but I

[49:11] think we were very productive and had a good result when

[49:15] we were all done with that.

[49:17] Thank you.

[49:18] Thank you.

[49:19] Anything else on the reserve account.

[49:20] So what's the next step.

[49:22] So if you agree with the language,

[49:25] the next step is to really send it to the auditors

[49:28] for their approval.

[49:30] I personally would like you to take

[49:32] the auditors or state auditors.

[49:33] State auditors.

[49:34] State auditors.

[49:35] State auditors.

[49:36] I personally would like you to table.

[49:38] That way, you have an opportunity to review

[49:40] the language, make any changes.

[49:41] If you need, and then make a formal decision on the 17th.

[49:45] I've already drafted a letter to the State Auditor,

[49:48] so I'm ready to pull the plug when you're ready.

[49:50] But I think I'd like you guys to have

[49:52] an opportunity to review and discuss

[49:54] and make changes if needed.

[49:57] Comments makes sense to me.

[50:01] I'm happy to see us produce on filing.

[50:06] Yes thank you.

[50:09] At one of the meetings, I know that you the group

[50:13] had spent some time on.

[50:14] It's mission statement charge.

[50:17] Is that something that will be put

[50:18] forth before the commissioners to approve.

[50:20] I'm happy to pull it up and read it to if you want to hear

[50:23] what our mission statement is.

[50:24] Yeah, yeah, I think that needs to be formalized.

[50:27] Approve or accept.

[50:28] Yeah, I don't but I would like to see

[50:34] I would like to see on the website that

[50:37] approved or accepted mission statement

[50:39] and a list of the members.

[50:41] And if they're from the community,

[50:42] what town they're from, and then if they're from the County

[50:46] staff, what their role is, just so that we can have that up

[50:50] and people can know that that's ongoing.

[50:53] Sure noted.

[50:54] Anything else on whoever the contact like the single point

[50:58] of contact should be if someone in the community

[51:00] has an inquiry around the finance advisory committee.

[51:03] County treasurer.

[51:05] Sounds good.

[51:08] What else.

[51:08] Do you have anything else on that topic.

[51:10] I'm just going to read that mission statement.

[51:12] I'm just sitting there right now.

[51:13] Hold on.

[51:13] Thank you.

[51:14]

[51:22] So we called it a purpose.

[51:24] We didn't call it a mission statement.

[51:25]

[51:35] The purpose of the finance advisory committee

[51:38] is to provide advice and recommendations to the Waldo

[51:41] County commissioners regarding County reserve funds,

[51:44] including appropriate reserve targets and opportunities

[51:47] for account consolidation and other financial matters referred

[51:52] to the committee for review.

[51:53] The committee will review the county's budget process,

[51:56] reserves and other financial information

[51:58] and provide recommendations to improve transparency,

[52:01] strengthen long term financial planning,

[52:04] and support sound financial decision making.

[52:08] Thank you.

[52:10] Maybe that could just be emailed to us.

[52:12] Sure, I'd like to sit a little longer,

[52:13] but thank you so much for that.

[52:17] I want to say that.

[52:20] The four community members Vicki.

[52:24] Ugly with no.

[52:25] Northport Randy place with Murrell.

[52:28] James gillway with searsport.

[52:31] Thank you.

[52:32] And Tammy Higgins from Stockton springs have been incredible.

[52:37] They have been very devoted.

[52:39] We're stay focused.

[52:42] We're on target.

[52:43] And I will say that this Friday we are going up to the jail

[52:49] and having our meeting up there.

[52:50] They're being given a tour.

[52:52] They've started having they started reviewing budget,

[52:56] and they met with the Sheriff and the chief last Friday

[53:00] and started going over their budget, asking questions,

[53:03] clarification, and they'll be doing the same with the jail.

[53:07] So I'm excited to see what Friday brings.

[53:09] That's great.

[53:10] Thank you.

[53:10] Yes next.

[53:12] The only other thing finance related is I have my once.

[53:17]

[53:26] The first one is an opioid warrant 0 funding motion.

[53:33] I'll second question.

[53:37] So have we released any of the opioid funds that were approved

[53:40] on the initial grant awards.

[53:43] The only thing that we have awarded and sent

[53:47] a check was for R3 for 36,500.

[53:52] OK, so was that.

[53:55] In the prior warrant, that was three warrants.

[53:59] I believe that was 716.

[54:01] OK got it.

[54:02] Thank you very much.

[54:05] Any discussion.

[54:06] Call the question.

[54:07] All those in favor.

[54:08] Motion passes.

[54:08] Thank you.

[54:09]

[54:18] It's been reduced to just initials, I think.

[54:20] Tim has to thank you.

[54:24] The County accounts payable for three.

[54:29] Sorry for nine 326 is $40,998.39.

[54:36] That's 40998.39.

[54:40] Payroll for 824 was 197,008 2255.

[54:45] That's 197822.55.

[54:49] A grand total of $238,820.94.

[54:55] That's 238820.94.

[55:02] I move we approve the County warrant for September three

[55:06] in the amount of $238,820.94.

[55:10] So first, second discussion within that $40,998.39.

[55:17] Is that routine.

[55:19] Or since we passed that motion for anything

[55:22] greater than $1,000, this is all routine or routine.

[55:28] Yeah OK.

[55:29] There's nothing that stands out.

[55:32] All right.

[55:34] I'll call the question.

[55:35] All those in favor.

[55:36] Motion carries unanimously.

[55:37] Thank you.

[55:38] Jail OK.

[55:55] The jail warrant for 9 three is 56,799.

[56:02] 35 payroll for 824 was 57,000 to 85 a grand total of $84.75.

[56:13] That's 114084.75.

[56:17] We approve the jail warrant of $114,084.75 for 9 three.

[56:22] Second first.

[56:23] Second discussion.

[56:25] Same question on the AP.

[56:26] Same thing.

[56:27] Same thing.

[56:28] Thank you.

[56:29] Call the question.

[56:29] All those in favor.

[56:31] Motion motion carries unanimously.

[56:32] Thank you.

[56:33]

[56:38] Thank you.

[56:40] OK OK.

[56:41] Thank you.

[56:43] That is all I have for finance.

[56:45] County clerk.

[56:45]

[57:04] Excuse me.

[57:04]

[57:10] All right.

[57:11]

[57:15] As part of the report.

[57:19] I gave you a little packet of.

[57:22] And I know you're going to talk about it later.

[57:23] So we can hold off if you would like.

[57:25] And this is the old business related to opioid contracts.

[57:30] So I can hold off on that if you wish.

[57:34] And you wish to discuss that by yourselves.

[57:36] I just want to make sure we'll hold on that.

[57:38] Great thank you.

[57:40] Then would you let me.

[57:42] I think we can accomplish quite a little bit of discussion

[57:46] just by going through the budget that I tried to update

[57:49] for you folks based on your request to make reductions

[57:53] where we thought possible.

[57:54] But of course, this is your budget,

[57:56] and you folks can absolutely decide what you want to do.

[58:00] That's also in front of you.

[58:03] You had already made reductions.

[58:05] You can see those under the commissioner requested.

[58:10] As you look down.

[58:12] But I highlighted the additional ones that I thought we could

[58:15] live without for another year.

[58:17] One thing to be in full disclosure.

[58:20] Equipment repairs and leases.

[58:22] I had not realized at the time that funding is being cared

[58:28] for under the information technology budget

[58:30] so that was because of the it shouldn't have been in there.

[58:33] Printer copier program.

[58:35] Yep correct.

[58:36] I didn't know that at the time.

[58:37] So that's why that was removed and zeroed out.

[58:42] Also, could you Barb on that line for equipment

[58:46] repairs leases.

[58:48] Can you change the budget.

[58:50] Notes to copier has been moved to the.

[58:54] It moved.

[58:55] Sure department it.

[58:57] Budget thank you.

[58:58] Yes and then with brief discussion

[59:04] with Commissioner Pinkham.

[59:06] We had some ideas about not necessarily spending money.

[59:10] If we can avoid it on the County bicentennial,

[59:13] come up with some other ideas.

[59:15] I have been trying to look for grants.

[59:18] We missed the window in 2026 and by grants.

[59:21] I guess I'm still thinking maybe we could have

[59:24] some kind of a banner hanging on a building,

[59:26] but that is entirely up to you, folks.

[59:28] But that was the thought process behind that reduction.

[59:34] And then moving on to office supplies.

[59:37] Can you make the same note.

[59:38] Move to it.

[59:39] Budget for $2,000.

[59:44] It was a yeah, whatever the amount is.

[59:47] Oh, wait a minute.

[59:48] What supplies you need to change the description.

[59:52] Do you think is toner still included in there.

[59:55] No and that's why if you look over in notes, I struck it out.

[59:59] All right.

[1:00:02] But OK.

[1:00:05] So you're down in office supply.

[1:00:06] So anyway, looking at our history, looking at last year,

[1:00:09] I'm going to do my best to keep it low.

[1:00:11] So I dropped another 100 from that.

[1:00:15] And then after again, thinking about it

[1:00:18] we'll just keep the chairs if that's what you want to do.

[1:00:22] And for another year and do that another time.

[1:00:25] So those are my thoughts.

[1:00:27] Please feel free to.

[1:00:28]

[1:00:30] So let's go back up to the liability insurance you actually

[1:00:36] received in writing a quote.

[1:00:38] The increase that will be probably

[1:00:42] end of September, early October.

[1:00:43] But that was the estimate provided

[1:00:45] by Malcolm Ulmer estimate.

[1:00:47] He usually estimates high.

[1:00:49] So far we've never gone over his estimate.

[1:00:51] Usually we're under.

[1:00:53] So I'm hopeful.

[1:00:53] When we get that estimate.

[1:00:57] And it's during the Budget Committee process.

[1:00:59] Do we alter it during that.

[1:01:01] OK, great.

[1:01:02] Yep one question I had was where we've done a number of union

[1:01:08] negotiations this year.

[1:01:10] Is there money we can take out of legal services on union

[1:01:15] contract negotiations for next year,

[1:01:17] since there won't be as many to do.

[1:01:20] Is there any union contracts come up next year.

[1:01:23] No, no we don't.

[1:01:27] I think we have one.

[1:01:29] One is what I thought.

[1:01:31] But there were how many this year three.

[1:01:33] So in my mind, and I know they're probably

[1:01:36] not all created equal in terms of what we end up spending.

[1:01:42] I will come.

[1:01:42] Can I get back to you on how many we have.

[1:01:44] Or if you want me to step out for a second,

[1:01:46] I can quickly look at the covers because we have the years.

[1:01:49] I don't think we have any union.

[1:01:50] I'll be right back.

[1:01:51] So this goes until 28.

[1:01:58] It just got.

[1:01:59] It just got ratified in 24.

[1:02:01] It's a three year contract, so that would go 25.

[1:02:04] It was ratified in.

[1:02:05] You're right.

[1:02:06] I'm sorry.

[1:02:07] You're right.

[1:02:08] Yeah OK.

[1:02:09]

[1:02:14] The deputies ends in 2027.

[1:02:18] Yeah and the.

[1:02:22] There's two.

[1:02:23]

[1:02:27] And then the communications.

[1:02:29] For some reason I'm having trouble doing that.

[1:02:31] Starts in 2027.

[1:02:32] So, yeah, I think we only have the one.

[1:02:34] We got one.

[1:02:35]

[1:02:39] Two ended in 2026.

[1:02:40] And then one had dragged.

[1:02:42] I think so yes.

[1:02:45] It's a reduction for sure.

[1:02:47] Does that come out of our professional services line item

[1:02:52] if we use it.

[1:02:53] Attorney yes.

[1:02:55] Part of that also comes out of HR 2, doesn't it.

[1:02:58] Don't we split it.

[1:02:59] If a grievance is involved, just grievance.

[1:03:04] Yeah, I'm thinking of just the cost

[1:03:05] of having our representative at the table with us

[1:03:11] during those meetings and the Bills that we get for that.

[1:03:14] I will say that is not the only thing that happens

[1:03:17] for legal with commissioners.

[1:03:19] Sometimes there are questions that come up that are no, I'm

[1:03:23] just we don't have a breakdown.

[1:03:27] A good question.

[1:03:27] Yeah, it's a good thought because I think

[1:03:31] the last week bill we got from.

[1:03:32] Was it Bernstein Sure Bernstein Shur was for over $3,000.

[1:03:38] And I don't know how many sit down meetings.

[1:03:40] I can't recall how many that covered.

[1:03:42] But if we're going to have fewer of those next year,

[1:03:44] that's a good chunk of money that we could potentially

[1:03:46] take out of that line item assuming it was a lot of phone

[1:03:50] calls to not just meeting, but yes,

[1:03:52] communication back and forth.

[1:03:53] And yes, the HR director and I sit down together

[1:03:56] and look at the Bills and try to figure out which ones were more

[1:04:01] HR related, driven grievances or what have you

[1:04:04] or and which are commissioner driven.

[1:04:08] So we split them up carefully.

[1:04:10] OK I don't what do you think's a good idea moving

[1:04:14] forward for finalizing that.

[1:04:18] He went up on his rate.

[1:04:20] Maybe it's a good idea to look at the history for the last 10

[1:04:25] years and/or five years or.

[1:04:29] Well, no, I would just.

[1:04:30] Maybe just to the thought of whatever contract is coming up

[1:04:34] next year, could we see how many hours would

[1:04:38] we have the invoices to be able to see

[1:04:40] how many hours of negotiation and support

[1:04:42] we needed based on that contract.

[1:04:44] We'll revisit.

[1:04:45] We'll take a look at the invoices.

[1:04:47] Thank you.

[1:04:47] I keep them for six years.

[1:04:52] I wouldn't touch it.

[1:04:54] I leave it the same.

[1:04:56]

[1:05:00] Let's see if we'll take a look.

[1:05:02] See if we can do some cost accounting.

[1:05:03] But I tend to agree with Tim on that one.

[1:05:06] Now, when you look at what you expended in 2025 and 2026.

[1:05:13] And I can go back.

[1:05:15] We can look at previous years if you'd like.

[1:05:17] That wouldn't be hard.

[1:05:20] I see us in 27 spending a lot of time

[1:05:24] if the unions don't get all of what they want,

[1:05:28] having more conversations with legal.

[1:05:30]

[1:05:37] So overall then we're looking for the commissioners

[1:05:43] budget increases of 7.8% Anybody see

[1:06:09] anything else on this budget.

[1:06:11]

[1:06:18] Dues we.

[1:06:19] That was a firm on dues.

[1:06:21] Barb yes.

[1:06:23] Dues was a firm cost increase as far as I know.

[1:06:27] Yes if and again if we get different information

[1:06:31] along the way, I always bring it up because any reduction

[1:06:34] is a good reduction.

[1:06:37] But as far as those are the anticipated amounts of the dues.

[1:06:45] The one that might be in question

[1:06:46] is the one related to mcca, because I think some of that's

[1:06:52] based on the liability insurance.

[1:06:56] So that might change for miles, meals and lodging.

[1:07:00] Just as an example, it was offered to me.

[1:07:02] I wasn't able to make it work schedule wise,

[1:07:04] schedule wise, to go to the main county's convention.

[1:07:08] And I could have had a hotel room paid for

[1:07:10] and that sort of thing through those line items.

[1:07:14] If we know that a commissioner is not

[1:07:16] even if I were to say if I were to attend that next year,

[1:07:20] I wouldn't ask for that.

[1:07:22] Does that give us any wiggle room in those we would

[1:07:26] need to know now in order to.

[1:07:27] Is that what you're saying.

[1:07:28] Could we reduce that item if I said,

[1:07:29] I'm never going to ask you for a hotel room in 2027?

[1:07:33] Yes if I go, I'll consider it my own thing.

[1:07:36] I'd be OK with doing that.

[1:07:39] But I also it's an uncomfortable thing

[1:07:41] because it's an individual choice

[1:07:43] A person can make, not something that we as a board

[1:07:45] agree to with fairness.

[1:07:47] And sometimes you don't know what opportunities come up

[1:07:49] that are great for new commissioners

[1:07:51] to be able to attend, I know that Kerry and I are going.

[1:07:56] We're riding together.

[1:07:58] We are not staying.

[1:07:59] Yeah so we understand and we try to do what

[1:08:02] we can to learn what we can, but at the most

[1:08:07] reduced cost as possible.

[1:08:10] Barb, on the percentage change column,

[1:08:13] I think you need to take a look at those percentages.

[1:08:16] Some are positive and they should be negative.

[1:08:20] Just take a look at the formulas on that.

[1:08:24] Just recheck those.

[1:08:25] OK we'll do.

[1:08:27]

[1:08:31] Because I think that 10.89% there.

[1:08:35] Well that's a change that I'm getting 7.8.

[1:08:39] But OK.

[1:08:40] Just check your percentages.

[1:08:42] Absolutely I don't know maybe we reduce the lodging down to 1,300

[1:08:48] or something like that.

[1:08:50] Given what I just said.

[1:08:53] Where are you.

[1:08:53] Where are you at.

[1:08:54] Lodging is line 11 right now.

[1:08:57] It's at 15.

[1:08:57] 20 I can usually find a acquaintance or a family member

[1:09:06] in the neighborhood of wherever we might go.

[1:09:09] If I need a couch.

[1:09:10] Can you adopt me then.

[1:09:12] Like, remember me from college 20 years ago.

[1:09:16]

[1:09:20] So if you just take that lodging line at 15, 20,

[1:09:23] and I just want to round it for whatever reason,

[1:09:27] 250 a night at o'clock point, basically 6.1 nights.

[1:09:32]

[1:09:41] I think it's four nights.

[1:09:44] You want to drop it.

[1:09:45] Yeah why don't we just do 1,000.

[1:09:48] You good with 1,000.

[1:09:51] I mean, you and I haven't really done anything, but.

[1:09:53] Yeah, I. OK $1,000.

[1:09:58] Drop it to 1,000.

[1:10:13] Anything else.

[1:10:15] Just that we have to remember these things.

[1:10:17] When the Budget Committee says, can you do fewer hotel stays.

[1:10:20] Like we already did that.

[1:10:22] I'm keeping my old spreadsheets because the notes are on it.

[1:10:26] Yep all right.

[1:10:27] So we know during the budget process

[1:10:31] that line 13 liability insurance,

[1:10:35] we update as we receive hard quotes.

[1:10:39] Anything else.

[1:10:40] Updates any other updates you get during the cycle.

[1:10:48] Or is everything pretty much locked.

[1:10:50] Usually it comes to the liability insurance always comes

[1:10:55] in after we start the budget process,

[1:10:57] and dues are sometimes connected to that.

[1:10:59] So those are the two that can change.

[1:11:01] And so we're going to take a look at the invoices.

[1:11:03] Go back on professional services just

[1:11:05] to see if we can see a trend there

[1:11:07] and do some cost accounting on that liability insurance.

[1:11:10] Awaiting on the update.

[1:11:11]

[1:11:19] I don't see anything else from you guys

[1:11:21] and revisit the percentages.

[1:11:24] Yes thank you for the sacrifice on the chairs.

[1:11:27] If one of these chairs goes down,

[1:11:29] I'll bring one from my office.

[1:11:31] I just hope a person isn't in it when it goes down.

[1:11:34] We understand.

[1:11:35] I brought one from home for in there.

[1:11:37] So it's all good.

[1:11:38] All right.

[1:11:43] What else do you have.

[1:11:45] Can we go back to the minutes, just for a second.

[1:11:49] Do you.

[1:11:50] How do you want to handle that tax abatement appeal.

[1:11:54] That was done.

[1:11:54] And I know none of you were here, so I can't

[1:11:58] remember why we were here.

[1:12:00] Oh I'm sorry.

[1:12:01] You asked.

[1:12:02] Correct I don't know if that was voted on.

[1:12:04] I think that was Brooks.

[1:12:08] Yes Brooks.

[1:12:09] Yeah, we already voted on that.

[1:12:10] OK no, it's the approval of the minutes for that.

[1:12:12] Yes that didn't get approved.

[1:12:14] And we've been waiting for when because I can't vote

[1:12:16] on that because I. You can abstain Yeah

[1:12:19] Have you read those minutes.

[1:12:21] Have you seen.

[1:12:21] I thought we already approved them.

[1:12:23] I didn't think you did.

[1:12:24] I thought your motion, please correct me, was for.

[1:12:26] The motion was for 16.

[1:12:30] 16 Yeah, but have we seen the minutes for Brooks.

[1:12:33] The 220, 25 before.

[1:12:34] I sent them to you.

[1:12:35] Twice yeah.

[1:12:36] You did.

[1:12:37] Yep emailed them.

[1:12:38] Just put it on the agenda for the 17,

[1:12:40] and Tim and I will vote on that separately.

[1:12:43] I'll have to hunt for them.

[1:12:47] So that's 917.

[1:12:49] All right.

[1:12:49] Very good.

[1:12:50] Would you I'm going to just hand since they are printed,

[1:12:53] I'm going to give you the minutes if it's OK with you

[1:12:55] from August 6.

[1:12:56] And I apologize for not sending them.

[1:12:59] Sometimes I lose track of these things when I'm not.

[1:13:01] So August 6 will go on.

[1:13:03] Yes 917.

[1:13:05] Yes thank you.

[1:13:06] OK thank you.

[1:13:09] And nice format.

[1:13:12] Thank you.

[1:13:14] That would be Danielle.

[1:13:15] She is working really hard at that.

[1:13:17]

[1:13:20] Let's see what else I have for you.

[1:13:22]

[1:13:27] I think that is it for my part of things.

[1:13:30] Tracy did ask me to present a couple of things to you folks.

[1:13:35] Knows that for.

[1:13:36] That's for the human resources report,

[1:13:38] and that is that an executive session 1 will.

[1:13:40] The tail end will be and I'm not presenting that.

[1:13:43] I'm to hand the folder to you and walk away.

[1:13:45] So what does Tracy what are you going to record things for you.

[1:13:50] She has put together a draft technology policy.

[1:13:55] May I get that to you.

[1:13:57] Yeah sorry.

[1:14:02] Thank you.

[1:14:03] Yes so this is.

[1:14:06] This is the technology policy.

[1:14:08] She did not expect you to make any decisions on it today,

[1:14:11] but wanted you to have it.

[1:14:13] All right.

[1:14:14] So we're going to table this tonight.

[1:14:15] I've read through I had some questions about some of it,

[1:14:18] but I had asked about an AI policy

[1:14:21] because I had heard in various reports

[1:14:25] from department heads about casual, just usage

[1:14:28] of like ChatGPT and things like that,

[1:14:30] and wanted to make sure that in my job,

[1:14:32] how I use AI is really regulated because of private information.

[1:14:36] I want to make sure that we had it written down

[1:14:38] in our handbook that basically to protect people in the County

[1:14:44] from using AI and putting into it

[1:14:45] information that we don't want put into.

[1:14:48] Good point.

[1:14:48] Yeah very good point.

[1:14:50] And just at the first read through,

[1:14:53] I thought this looked really good.

[1:14:55] And I love the part that said like about that.

[1:15:00] It shouldn't be a replacement for face

[1:15:02] to face and human interaction that that's

[1:15:04] something that we value.

[1:15:07] Oh OK.

[1:15:08] So table this until 917.

[1:15:12] And I'm not going to use AI to double check section five.

[1:15:19] Just so for the record.

[1:15:20] Yeah the other thing that's in there that's important

[1:15:22] is check your work.

[1:15:25] Yes What else do you have for Tracy.

[1:15:27] I believe she presented the detective

[1:15:29] job description to you.

[1:15:31] Yes she did.

[1:15:31] And also the emergency Management

[1:15:34] Agency communications technician,

[1:15:36] and there were some edits.

[1:15:39] She gave me one copy of each, and she

[1:15:43] was hoping you would approve them because she

[1:15:44] did make those edits.

[1:15:46] I'm going to give them to you.

[1:15:47] OK good job.

[1:15:49] The titles were EMA communications.

[1:15:53] And is this the pronunciation struggle we had.

[1:15:58] Could very well be.

[1:16:02] And the only other thing I'm going to hand to you

[1:16:04] is that she.

[1:16:06] There's a note on it.

[1:16:07] She said keep the original, so please do that.

[1:16:11] So I'm supposed to keep someone's supposed to keep the.

[1:16:14] Oh, that's an executive.

[1:16:15] OK yes it is.

[1:16:16] All right is I move.

[1:16:18] We approve the emergency Management

[1:16:20] Agency communications technician update as of eight 2026.

[1:16:26] And the detective job description as of 8, 7, 726.

[1:16:33] First second.

[1:16:33] Any more discussion.

[1:16:34] Hearing none.

[1:16:35] All those in favor.

[1:16:35] Motion carries.

[1:16:37] That's all.

[1:16:47] That's all I have for you.

[1:16:48]

[1:17:10] Do you want to hand these people so we don't lose them.

[1:17:16] Thank you.

[1:17:18] Thank you very much, Kobe.

[1:17:19] That's it for air.

[1:17:21] It is.

[1:17:21] All right then we have.

[1:17:24] So we need to go to executive session for an HR issue.

[1:17:28] It's Mrs. Subchapter 14056a.

[1:17:32] And let me know when we're off record.

[1:17:34]

[1:17:44] You can stay on.

[1:17:45]

[1:17:47] Thank you.

[1:17:48]

[1:18:28] First yes.

[1:18:30] OK thanks, Mark.

[1:18:32]

[1:18:37] Thank you.

[1:18:40] Oh good catch.

[1:18:41] Yeah so this is Waldo County commissioners

[1:18:45] court session, September three.

[1:18:47] We are back in session, and we have some action to take.

[1:18:52] I move that we approve the offer.

[1:18:55] The letter of offer of employment,

[1:18:57] retroactive June 4, 2026 for employment with the County

[1:19:00] of Waldo.

[1:19:01] First do I have a second.

[1:19:02] Second I have a second.

[1:19:03] Any more discussion.

[1:19:05] Hearing none.

[1:19:05] All those in favor.

[1:19:06] Motion is unanimous.

[1:19:10] Next who handed this to me.

[1:19:15] Barb Barb.

[1:19:16] Filling in for Tracy.

[1:19:17] Yeah next on the agenda.

[1:19:19] Do you need me to take that back to her.

[1:19:21] Is the opioid contracts the first one.

[1:19:25] Let's just go to the first one.

[1:19:26] There's been a change in the situation with the grant package

[1:19:33] that was submitted by Tennessee holistic health,

[1:19:38] and we need to rescind that motion to approve that grant.

[1:19:44] I think they lost one of their backers out in Sears.

[1:19:51] In searsmont.

[1:19:52] And so they don't have the property that

[1:19:55] was involved in that grant.

[1:19:57] So we need a motion.

[1:19:58] I'll put the motion on the table.

[1:20:00] Motion to rescind the grant to panacea holistic health

[1:20:05] under the opioid funding.

[1:20:07] Second oh I have a first.

[1:20:09] I have a second.

[1:20:10] Any more discussion hearing none call

[1:20:11] the question motion carries OK.

[1:20:14] Next one is I know we approved this grant is just a formality.

[1:20:19] Now is motion to approve the contract for Brooks ambulance

[1:20:24] company between the County of Waldo and Brooks

[1:20:26] ambulance for contract periods August 1, 2026

[1:20:29] through July 31, 2027.

[1:20:32] In the contract amount of 50,000,

[1:20:35] contract number is WC 0 a or yeah 0 a 2026

[1:20:43] Brooks ambulance dash 0 one.

[1:20:46] Do I have a motion to approve motion.

[1:20:48] I have it first, second.

[1:20:50] All those in favor.

[1:20:52] Motion carries unanimous.

[1:20:53]

[1:20:59] Agreement may I ask a question.

[1:21:04] Sure Do you want me to pay them now,

[1:21:06] or do you want me to wait until the 17th to present the warrant.

[1:21:12] What's the reason for the two different dates.

[1:21:15] Oh, I couldn't hear you.

[1:21:16] Oh I'm sorry.

[1:21:17] Do you want me to pay them today,

[1:21:19] or do you want me to wait till the 17th

[1:21:21] when I present the warrant.

[1:21:22] Present the warrant.

[1:21:23] 17th did you.

[1:21:25] 17th yeah.

[1:21:26] OK thank you.

[1:21:28] Next one.

[1:21:30] So that contract.

[1:21:31] I think you get this one.

[1:21:33] Yes next one is contract between the County of Washoe and DOA.

[1:21:37]

[1:21:40] Northern New England contract period August 1, 2026

[1:21:44] through July 31, 2027.

[1:21:47] Contract amount is $91,500.00.

[1:21:50] Contract number is WC 0 a tac 2026 tac VOA tac 0 one.

[1:21:58] Motion to approve.

[1:22:00] So moved.

[1:22:01] I have a first.

[1:22:01] I have a second.

[1:22:02] Second discussion.

[1:22:03] Discussion what's the increased amount from last year.

[1:22:09] This is under the opioid agreement, I believe.

[1:22:14] Yes it is.

[1:22:15] It's under the opioid agreement.

[1:22:16] So it's under that the grants for the opioid.

[1:22:22] Another point of discussion.

[1:22:25] Does that answer your question.

[1:22:26] Yeah another point of discussion.

[1:22:28] If it's just a little concern, I know in the scope of work

[1:22:38] that they have 50 to 40 to 50 unduplicated individuals

[1:22:41] annually.

[1:22:42] If you divide 50 into 2000, that's 41.6 patients.

[1:22:50] I think that number is low.

[1:22:52] And hopefully they'll reach out to more

[1:22:54] individuals in that case.

[1:22:55] But I know the nature of the beast.

[1:22:57] Sometimes you have multiple appointments

[1:22:59] and that does take up additional time.

[1:23:01] So yes.

[1:23:03] But isn't that based off of our population.

[1:23:05] Yes so I mean, potentially it could

[1:23:09] be more it could be a lot more.

[1:23:11] And they're going to do the reporting.

[1:23:12] It's an individual and they're going to do the reporting.

[1:23:14] So was this for I'm sorry I'm trying to remember if this was

[1:23:17] a position that's starting now, or if it's

[1:23:19] meant to be starting in 2027.

[1:23:22] I'm just thinking in terms of timing of paying and reducing

[1:23:25] our reliance on the TAM.

[1:23:26] If I remember correctly, they're looking to FTE

[1:23:29] and we're starting that process once this was approved.

[1:23:32] Does that answer your question.

[1:23:34] Yeah OK.

[1:23:35] I'd like to just pay that as late as possible.

[1:23:39] That discussion was that they would be paid quarterly

[1:23:42] based on reportings reports that they gave,

[1:23:45] which is outlined how they are to report

[1:23:48] to us in one payment is in the contract

[1:23:50] that you're signing first payment.

[1:23:52] They're not even getting a first payment.

[1:23:54] They have to pay us the report and then the.

[1:23:57] And then they get paid.

[1:23:58] Great yes.

[1:23:59] Thank you.

[1:24:00] Any more discussion.

[1:24:02] Hearing none.

[1:24:03] Call the question.

[1:24:03] All those in favor.

[1:24:04] Motion carries unanimously.

[1:24:06] Thank you.

[1:24:07] Commissioners, I realize it still

[1:24:09] says draft on both of those.

[1:24:11] Oh, you want to take it off.

[1:24:12] I'm printing them off right now.

[1:24:13] All right.

[1:24:13] Print it off now.

[1:24:15] Yeah, we'll wait a little bit.

[1:24:17]

[1:24:21] Good catch.

[1:24:22]

[1:24:28] Go get those.

[1:24:29] I'll be right back Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question

[1:24:36] No May I approach with the original draft on them.

[1:25:06] Thank you.

[1:25:07] So we got a clean copy.

[1:25:08] Yes thank you.

[1:25:11] Thank you.

[1:25:13] That's OK.

[1:25:14] All right.

[1:25:15]

[1:25:36] There's two.

[1:25:36] You got them.

[1:25:37] Thank you very much.

[1:25:39] All originals suitable for framing.

[1:25:43] Thank you.

[1:25:45] That's it.

[1:25:45] On the contracts.

[1:25:47] Next old business is further discussion of the 2027 budget.

[1:25:52] What do we have.

[1:25:53]

[1:26:01] I don't know where you'd like to begin, but I have some items.

[1:26:06] One is last year we used opioid settlement funds to help fund

[1:26:14] medically assisted treatment.

[1:26:17] And I wondered if we were going to be requesting

[1:26:19] that from the opioid committee.

[1:26:21] It also, I'm seeing that the opioid committee is doling out

[1:26:25] 50,000 less than it thought it would

[1:26:27] be this year because of the issue

[1:26:29] with panacea holistic health.

[1:26:32] And so perhaps that might be an opportunity

[1:26:34] to ask the opioid committee if they would

[1:26:36] support mat in this budget.

[1:26:42] It also that question in general speaks to.

[1:26:45]

[1:26:48] Concern I have around what revenues

[1:26:52] we include as part of the budgeting process

[1:26:56] and what ones are at the purview of the commissioners

[1:27:00] after the budget process.

[1:27:03] Some of these revenues, like opioid funds,

[1:27:07] and I think it was the revitalization fund that got put

[1:27:10] toward the jail seemed to be handled in a different way

[1:27:15] than revenue in general.

[1:27:18] Let's back up to the first question.

[1:27:19] Yeah you had multiple parts to it.

[1:27:22] Opioid funds.

[1:27:23] I know last year that we reduce correct me if I'm wrong, Carrie,

[1:27:28] that we reduced the medical line by $100,000

[1:27:31] because we're going to use $100,000 of the opioid

[1:27:36] to subsidize that line item.

[1:27:40] How are we doing right now.

[1:27:42] What's the Department number 10.

[1:27:44] What for.

[1:27:46] Jail 10.

[1:27:47] 1010 sorry.

[1:27:48] 1050 should be in the book unless you put it in order.

[1:27:52]

[1:27:55] How are we.

[1:27:56] How is the invoices doing on the medical line.

[1:27:59] I know that medical line includes the medical

[1:28:04] for the 72 hour hold.

[1:28:06] And it also includes the Somerset jail.

[1:28:09] And we've had some on expected expenses in that line.

[1:28:15] I know we had to do.

[1:28:18] We've had a couple of medical issues over in our 72 hour hold.

[1:28:21] One 72 hour hold and the other one is in Somerset.

[1:28:26] It was greater than six hours, and after six hours,

[1:28:29] then we have to provide a corrections

[1:28:30] officer to sit with the inmate or resident in the hospital.

[1:28:37] So I have not seen any invoices with those situations

[1:28:44] come across my desk yet.

[1:28:47] So we've got some wild cards there.

[1:28:49]

[1:28:53] So what's our current expense that we know for sure.

[1:28:59] I'm looking that up right now.

[1:29:02] If you get the most current year to date expense in percentage.

[1:29:07]

[1:29:11] I'll have to.

[1:29:11]

[1:29:17] Try to take one question at a time.

[1:29:19] Thank you.

[1:29:20]

[1:29:22] So as of right now, we have spent $220,387.16.

[1:29:36] Say that again.

[1:29:37] 220 220,387 16.

[1:29:46] That's up almost 100,000 since mid-year.

[1:29:49] Number that's amazing.

[1:29:52]

[1:29:56] Yeah we pay mapped out of that line.

[1:30:01] And that ranges anywhere from let's see.

[1:30:04] The low has been 20,000.

[1:30:06] The high has been 38,000 a year.

[1:30:12] No so this is the first time we're doing this Matt invoice.

[1:30:16] Oh from Somerset.

[1:30:18] So how often do we get the invoice.

[1:30:20] Monthly monthly.

[1:30:21] I was like that's.

[1:30:22] Yeah and I feel like.

[1:30:28] So that's mostly Matt.

[1:30:32] That's what that sounds like.

[1:30:33] Yes right now.

[1:30:35] Yeah they reduce I know the cost of the subacute shot reduced

[1:30:42] briefly to 340B pricing.

[1:30:45] But then after meeting with Matt Magnusson

[1:30:49] they lost that pricing.

[1:30:51] So I think it went back up.

[1:30:53]

[1:30:57] So I of that $300,000 that we thought were going to spend what

[1:31:04] we thought we were going to spend $400 and we added

[1:31:06] hundreds of revenue to get.

[1:31:08] So we're at o'clock o'clock o'clock, call it 220,

[1:31:10] $220,000 right now.

[1:31:13] But we've got a couple invoices out there for sure

[1:31:16] that you haven't seen.

[1:31:17] Yeah and you still have.

[1:31:22] What month are we in.

[1:31:22] September you still have September, October, November,

[1:31:25] December of not coming in.

[1:31:27] But again, it's 400,000.

[1:31:29] Really and that's why my second question

[1:31:31] is there because I question us using

[1:31:34] revenue to reduce budget items.

[1:31:37] Because it's not actually we budgeted 400,000 for that.

[1:31:41] We didn't budget 300,000.

[1:31:42] We budgeted 400.

[1:31:43] And then we found revenue.

[1:31:45] And we've had department heads come back at us this year

[1:31:47] and say, hey, look, my budget numbers are out of whack

[1:31:50] because of this revenue.

[1:31:51] Are you saying there's a cliff.

[1:31:53] Yeah, well, we talked about the cliff,

[1:31:55] but I'm in favor of using that money for Matt.

[1:31:59] I'm just talking about the way we organize is right.

[1:32:04] But we should be using some of it for math.

[1:32:06] Absolutely but then it gets us back to the part.

[1:32:09] Are we doing stuff in our community with it.

[1:32:11] I think we're trying.

[1:32:13] Yeah we're trying to do both.

[1:32:16] We're trying to do that and the task force approach.

[1:32:20] But I'm saying when we have our revenues, like from deeds

[1:32:23] or other things, I think that we should include

[1:32:28] these types of offsets in that rather than

[1:32:31] in each department's budget.

[1:32:34] Oh, I like that idea.

[1:32:35] So that we're actually seeing the budgeted

[1:32:37] expenses, not a number.

[1:32:41] Say that again.

[1:32:42] So in one thought, I have is instead of taking our 400,000

[1:32:48] that we're budgeting in two to 27

[1:32:50] and reducing that in the budget, let's keep that 400,000.

[1:32:55] Let's add medically assisted treatment,

[1:32:58] $100,000 from the opioid committee into our revenue page.

[1:33:03] So if we're going to do it, for one, are you going to do this.

[1:33:06] That's what I'm thinking.

[1:33:07] Yeah because then the Department heads aren't

[1:33:09] getting cliffs in their budget.

[1:33:10] It's the purview of the commissioners.

[1:33:12] That was stated many times last year.

[1:33:14] Hundreds is revenue.

[1:33:15] Yeah OK.

[1:33:17] Because I think the 220 number is soft.

[1:33:21] I know for a fact a hospital stay.

[1:33:23] And I know for a fact ambulance Ed issue.

[1:33:27] I don't know if that turned into a hospital stay or not.

[1:33:30] I have no idea what those Bills are going to come in at.

[1:33:33] So I think that $300,000 that we had in there taken off

[1:33:40] the table just for a second.

[1:33:41] The $100,000 opioid, I think we're going

[1:33:44] to be over that line for sure.

[1:33:50] So 2 to 25 by 3.

[1:33:54] So we're at 73% right now.

[1:33:57] But that's the 300 and it's really a 400.

[1:34:01] It's a 400.

[1:34:02] Yeah so I don't disagree with you,

[1:34:09] but this got brought up back in 23 budget

[1:34:13] and it got a Budget Committee got

[1:34:15] brought up again 24 before we jumped on the commissioner and.

[1:34:22] I brought this up because we charge when you have income

[1:34:27] coming in for inmate housing.

[1:34:29] You have income coming in for patrol detailing you.

[1:34:32] Have money coming in from forfeitures.

[1:34:35] You have money coming in from all these departments.

[1:34:39] It's going to make it look like that.

[1:34:40] We're making money on things.

[1:34:44] So if we're going to do it with one,

[1:34:46] we got to do it with all of them.

[1:34:48] That's a good point.

[1:34:50] And at the time, I'm not going to throw other commissioners

[1:34:55] under the bus from Paris.

[1:34:57] It was explained to me that money is put into a reserves

[1:35:03] account, and then they offset and that but then

[1:35:07] reserve accounts aren't really showed to us

[1:35:09] at that back in 23 and 24.

[1:35:11] So well then I don't.

[1:35:13] So I'm not disagreeing with what you're saying at all.

[1:35:15] It's how do you put it on the paper.

[1:35:18] Yeah and not make it look like so it could be on this page

[1:35:22] rather than if it's really specific to there

[1:35:26] is a revenue line item at the bottom of the jail budget.

[1:35:28] That's the state revenue.

[1:35:30] Can we add a few more of those.

[1:35:31] That's funds.

[1:35:33] And then put in the notes relates to line, blah blah,

[1:35:37] blah, blah blah, because that's what

[1:35:38] we're trying to offset with it.

[1:35:39] Or opioid funds relates to line item.

[1:35:42] So you're saying put another add another line in there.

[1:35:44] Yeah revenue for opioids.

[1:35:46] Yep I would agree.

[1:35:47] And the same with the CTA or the revitalization funds

[1:35:50] or anything.

[1:35:51] Essentially what you're talking about

[1:35:52] is you're asking to add the profit

[1:35:55] part to the law statement.

[1:35:57] Yeah, basically.

[1:35:58] And it could be the same for if facilities is

[1:36:02] pulling from a reserve account.

[1:36:03] So to fund something that they're doing

[1:36:05] and put that on the bottom under revenues.

[1:36:08] I don't disagree with you on this at all,

[1:36:10] because this is where my mind would

[1:36:12] have went when we were talking about doing

[1:36:14] communications contracts.

[1:36:17] But I also think that this is no different than when

[1:36:19] we contract out our employees to other facilities.

[1:36:23] We have to be showing that income.

[1:36:25] So the revenue for the school resource officer.

[1:36:29] That's something that's paid for or the correction stuff,

[1:36:34] or when we do a contract with another County

[1:36:36] to do their dispatching, or if we're doing patrol details from,

[1:36:41] let's say, common ground, I was using

[1:36:42] or whatever, we should be showing if we're making money

[1:36:47] off of these and I can't remember if and maybe Carrie,

[1:36:51] you can help me with this.

[1:36:51] As an example in the Sheriff's budget, where school resource

[1:36:55] officers reimburse to us.

[1:36:57] That's typically so what they do is they show

[1:37:01] that on their personnel page.

[1:37:03] Yep and then they list the amount there in parentheses.

[1:37:08] And I think they put reimbursable or it's now

[1:37:12] I will tell you that just because we are reimbursed

[1:37:17] does not necessarily mean that we get

[1:37:20] that in the same year that we.

[1:37:26] I think add the line to that $100,000 is a clear paper trail.

[1:37:34] Where Brianna was going because you

[1:37:37] have a projected revenue page.

[1:37:39] And I think that if you add for all departments,

[1:37:42] you could add all of your revenue into one spot

[1:37:46] and then you can categorize what it's for.

[1:37:48] Not on the Department, not on the Department.

[1:37:51] So I think except in the case of the State funds,

[1:37:54] that's like AI think that needs to be revisited as well.

[1:37:58] OK I like your idea of saying, OK,

[1:38:01] this is the expense all in to run this is

[1:38:05] what it costs to do business.

[1:38:07] And then you have that revenue page that says, OK,

[1:38:10] we received this for revenue.

[1:38:14] This revenue is offsetting the overall budget.

[1:38:17] So it matches up with my tax assessment

[1:38:20] when I go to put that document together.

[1:38:23] So here's the expense for the County.

[1:38:25] Here's the expense for the jail.

[1:38:27] Here's the County revenue, which includes all of this.

[1:38:30] And we list what are these called the Department number

[1:38:34] Yeah What is that called.

[1:38:36] 1050 1050 cost center.

[1:38:39] Cost center.

[1:38:39] And we align each item in the revenue sheet

[1:38:42] with the cost center.

[1:38:43] And I think that would be clearer to the public.

[1:38:45] I think it paints a better picture

[1:38:46] than going to the expense.

[1:38:49] And here's your revenue.

[1:38:51] It can be.

[1:38:54] I think it looks cleaner.

[1:38:56] I think it looks cleaner doing it that way.

[1:38:58] And I think it's a better situation for department heads

[1:39:02] because they're not on for the cliff when we or the Budget

[1:39:05] Committee says, all right, but we're

[1:39:06] going to pull from blah, blah blah to cover that,

[1:39:08] then that's not on them.

[1:39:09] They didn't actually make that decision.

[1:39:11] We did.

[1:39:14] That makes sense to me.

[1:39:17] You're good with that.

[1:39:17] So let's go back to $100,000.

[1:39:20] When do we want to pull it.

[1:39:22] Well I think motion on it.

[1:39:25] Should we just make a motion to request

[1:39:26] $100,000 from the opioid committee for the 2027

[1:39:30] inmate medical budget.

[1:39:33] Was that what that would look like.

[1:39:35] Well, a request to the committee.

[1:39:36] They've already been notified.

[1:39:39] So really, the legal authority rests with us.

[1:39:41] So if it's $100,000, then we can do it now or we can do it 17th.

[1:39:51] I'm flexible.

[1:39:52]

[1:39:54] Whatever you want.

[1:39:58] Yeah, let's do it.

[1:39:59] The seventh.

[1:39:59] When I present my warrant, there'll be an article.

[1:40:02] Well, there'll be a request for $100,000

[1:40:05] to the County jail based on the 20 approval of 2026 budget.

[1:40:09] Now, are you talking about adding asking for another

[1:40:11] $100,000 for 2027 seven.

[1:40:14] Because we already did that for 2026.

[1:40:18] OK OK.

[1:40:20] All right.

[1:40:21] So we'll do that the 17th then.

[1:40:25] What was your other questions.

[1:40:26]

[1:40:29] Well I don't know if you want to go into special appropriations,

[1:40:32] but sure, let's have that discussion number 1080 1080.

[1:40:39] Thank you.

[1:40:40]

[1:40:43] You have 1080.

[1:40:45] 1082 005.

[1:40:49] Yeah, I got it.

[1:40:51] And so you have Cooperative Extension

[1:40:55] and you can't remember their numbers.

[1:40:59] So we had a Total Request per our requirements

[1:41:05] based on your 15 question form that they have to fill out.

[1:41:08] They submitted $132,389.50.

[1:41:14] So far I think we have approved.

[1:41:19] Correct me if I'm wrong.

[1:41:20] Waldo cap for 5,000.

[1:41:23] Was that conditional or was it approved.

[1:41:25] Bar I'm sorry, what was that question again.

[1:41:28] We approved.

[1:41:29] Yeah I've got check marks next to Waldo cap.

[1:41:31] Firefighters and firefighters from cogs 10

[1:41:34] and then 3 for Winslow community cupboard.

[1:41:37] If it were up to me, I would ask to revisit all of them

[1:41:40] because I want to change my mind.

[1:41:41] But we can do.

[1:41:43] That ship has sailed.

[1:41:44]

[1:41:47] Why don't we visit.

[1:41:48]

[1:41:50] I personally don't, but I'm open to it.

[1:41:54] It is what it is.

[1:41:56] All right, so what do you want.

[1:41:57] To revisit each one individually.

[1:41:59] Or do you want to take an aggregate.

[1:42:01] I'll tell you.

[1:42:01] My thinking is that I want to continue to support the Waldo

[1:42:05] County firefighters association to the 5,000,

[1:42:08] because I see them as a direct partner in the work that we do.

[1:42:12] In terms of first responding in terms of EMA.

[1:42:16] I would consider Waldo cap, but I don't want to do.

[1:42:22] I want to do 0 for the rest because I really believe that we

[1:42:24] cannot be making donations given the financial

[1:42:27] position that we're in.

[1:42:28]

[1:42:31] I also think that if we're going to continue to consider working

[1:42:36] with mid-coast council of governments,

[1:42:38] that they're not a special appropriations,

[1:42:39] they're a contracted professional service

[1:42:41] or dues that they shouldn't have been in this.

[1:42:45]

[1:42:47] But I would rescind my tank on that

[1:42:49] simply because we don't know what grants

[1:42:52] we want to go for next year.

[1:42:53] I would like to be in a better position

[1:42:55] to know how we're going to utilize that $10,000 with them.

[1:43:02] It's a mouthful.

[1:43:02] I'm sorry.

[1:43:03] I have too many thoughts all at once.

[1:43:04] That's all I'm trying to digest.

[1:43:06] Yeah, I take our I take our total

[1:43:09] appropriations down to five or 10,000

[1:43:11] this year from the 12 5 last.

[1:43:14]

[1:43:17] May I add my cents.

[1:43:19] Sure it's not cents.

[1:43:24] It's going to be 501 because I got negative 3 coming.

[1:43:26] We don't take pennies anymore.

[1:43:28] Now, I take what Briana said a little bit further.

[1:43:33] And I'm not a heartless guy.

[1:43:35] I really am not.

[1:43:36] But we got items in this budget this year

[1:43:41] that we must, must find.

[1:43:46] And to say to these people that we can't fund this

[1:43:50] and we can't fund that while we're passing out,

[1:43:53] what's the total amount of money requested.

[1:43:56] Total total was 132,000.

[1:43:59] But I think right now we're looking at 5:00 o'clock, 10,

[1:44:01] 20, 23,000 is where we're at.

[1:44:04] I'm going to get very excited that 132,000 would pay for.

[1:44:12] That 132,000 would go a long way toward paying for Jason.

[1:44:16] So there are things on these that I would really like to fund

[1:44:23] because I see the purpose.

[1:44:25] But we're a place where we can't.

[1:44:28] I don't know how you do it.

[1:44:29] I'm glad I don't have to make the decision you guys make.

[1:44:32] But I'll tell you right now, we're at a critical stage

[1:44:36] on of personnel in this office.

[1:44:40] And I see it.

[1:44:42] I've seen it for 20 years.

[1:44:44] We need to address it before we address anything else.

[1:44:48] It's got to be.

[1:44:49] It's got to be.

[1:44:50]

[1:44:53] Whatever the fiasco is going to be, got to do that.

[1:44:57] This is a staff accountant.

[1:44:58] This which was recommended by the auditor.

[1:45:00] And when we get into the budget process

[1:45:03] and we add support for it and we add support for finance, that

[1:45:11] adding staff is always the first thing

[1:45:13] that's going to be questioned.

[1:45:15] Well, I want to feel like we did everything that we could to make

[1:45:20] that a yes for people, this office,

[1:45:23] I've been doing this for 26 years.

[1:45:26] This office has been understaffed for 26 years.

[1:45:29] Understaffed one person departments

[1:45:33] can't continue to do that.

[1:45:34] It's reckless.

[1:45:37] It's just.

[1:45:38] How long are we going to ask our IT guy to work.

[1:45:42] 24/7 How much longer are we going to do that.

[1:45:46] He's been.

[1:45:46] How long are we going to continue to keep

[1:45:48] on to carry on, to carry it.

[1:45:51] Director has been here for how many years.

[1:45:53] Six years 7 going on 7, six years.

[1:45:57] 24/7 And he's already told and stated for the record that if he

[1:46:02] doesn't have an assistant IT person to work with next year,

[1:46:05] he will not be here.

[1:46:08] So that's on the record.

[1:46:09] And I think that's fair.

[1:46:11] I don't think that that's some people view

[1:46:13] things like that as a threat.

[1:46:15] But I just think that that's what it takes to do the job.

[1:46:17] And what do you expect of people.

[1:46:20] They have a life.

[1:46:20] They have a family every time.

[1:46:22] It's really important to us to be on Zoom for this meeting.

[1:46:26] And when we say we want to do an extra meeting,

[1:46:29] we need that technology to be able to do that when

[1:46:32] we get together on a Saturday like we

[1:46:34] did for special appropriation.

[1:46:35] So when we talk about health and safety,

[1:46:37] our deputies on a rotational call,

[1:46:40] our 911 are on a rotational call.

[1:46:43] Our corrections are on a rotational call.

[1:46:46] It has no rotational call.

[1:46:50] Period so I agree with you, brie.

[1:46:52] I said, I think we need to cut it.

[1:46:55] I have no doubt in my mind the firefighters association,

[1:46:58] that's health and safety.

[1:46:59] I have no issues with the $5,000 request.

[1:47:04] Waldo cap is the one.

[1:47:05] I'm struggling with the rest.

[1:47:07] I think they got to go simply because of what we're

[1:47:11] up against in especially with medical

[1:47:14] we keep bringing this up and trying to fix medical,

[1:47:18] but medical is costing us thousands

[1:47:21] and thousands of dollars and we have to change the program.

[1:47:25] We're waiting on the latest bid requests for that.

[1:47:29] We won't.

[1:47:30] The soft increase is about 22% and they'll Harden

[1:47:35] up that percentage increase.

[1:47:39] The closer we get in October maybe the last week,

[1:47:42] the first week of November is really

[1:47:44] where we get that harder increased percentage rate is

[1:47:48] based on the 24 month history.

[1:47:51] But whatever it is, I guarantee it's going to be about 15,

[1:47:55] 18% somewhere in that range.

[1:47:57] We're seeing what happens in County government

[1:48:00] when we have turnover of staff as well.

[1:48:04] And what a mess that creates, what a turnover

[1:48:06] puts on the rest of the.

[1:48:07] And then.

[1:48:08] And then the actual cost you hire somebody new.

[1:48:10] They're looking at what those people are

[1:48:12] getting paid in other counties.

[1:48:13] And unfortunately they're getting

[1:48:16] paid more than they are here.

[1:48:18] So put a motion on the table.

[1:48:20]

[1:48:23] I move we approve $5,000 for the Waldo County firefighters

[1:48:27] association and no other special appropriations

[1:48:29] request for the 2027.

[1:48:31] Put a second on that for discussion.

[1:48:33] Any more discussion.

[1:48:34] Absolutely Jim.

[1:48:36]

[1:48:39] Are we or are we not, in a world where a contract

[1:48:44] is more than just a handshake.

[1:48:47] We are.

[1:48:48] And we had each one of these special appropriations

[1:48:51] come here and plead their case about why

[1:48:55] their special appropriation was important.

[1:48:58] And now we are talking about cutting them.

[1:49:01]

[1:49:04] But yet we also talk about integrity.

[1:49:07] So we've made a deal with special appropriations

[1:49:12] push this off to Budget Committee to now turn around

[1:49:16] and rescind on our deal just because we changed our mind.

[1:49:23] That's essentially what I'm hearing.

[1:49:27] I feel good about my personal integrity.

[1:49:29]

[1:49:32] So I said it before, we could push it to Budget Committee.

[1:49:35]

[1:49:39] As commissioners.

[1:49:44] The Budget Committee has authority over the expenses.

[1:49:48] They don't have the authority over the salary expense.

[1:49:51] And I understand that part fully.

[1:49:56] The problem is when it comes to tough decision leaders,

[1:50:00] leaders take a stance.

[1:50:02] And it's not always.

[1:50:06] Not always portrayed in a great light

[1:50:09] because it's controversial.

[1:50:11] This is a controversial thing, and I

[1:50:16] like to put realistic numbers before the Budget Committee.

[1:50:19] That makes sense.

[1:50:20] I don't want to put numbers before the Budget Committee

[1:50:22] that OK, we're going to have a sacrificial Lamb

[1:50:25] and we know they're going to cut this number just to pass it

[1:50:28] forward, rather than taking a stance as a leader

[1:50:30] and making that decision before it goes to a Budget Committee.

[1:50:33] So I don't disagree with what you're saying.

[1:50:36] But then why did you guys pass the $10,000 for the mid Coast.

[1:50:40] I am changed my mind on it.

[1:50:44] I don't know.

[1:50:44] I sometimes you think something's a good idea.

[1:50:47] Then you think about it and you go what,

[1:50:49] I'm going to walk back on that.

[1:50:50] And I'm happy to do that in public for everyone to see.

[1:50:54] In my case, I wanted to see what the number was for the budget.

[1:50:58] The total budget.

[1:51:01] It's hard to say yes on one hand and no on the other or.

[1:51:06] No on one hand, yes on the other.

[1:51:08] But when I'm putting forth, in a second year in a row,

[1:51:11] a high increased budget increase, which if you add

[1:51:15] the two percentages together, it comes out

[1:51:17] to coincidentally to 38% which was

[1:51:20] what was presented last year.

[1:51:22] I think we need to be realistic to say,

[1:51:25] last year was a tough year to pass the budget.

[1:51:27] And it was a lot of budget meetings,

[1:51:32] a lot of consternation over it.

[1:51:35] But in reality, we got the budget passed.

[1:51:38] I suspect it's going to happen again this year.

[1:51:41] And, you but we're fighting an economy

[1:51:46] that's in an inflated position.

[1:51:49] And we have to figure out how do we stay in business,

[1:51:52] how do we pay our Bills.

[1:51:54] We've pulled down another $2.2 million on the 10.

[1:51:59] So now we're at $7.7 million with two different rates.

[1:52:02] What's our rates 5, 3, three.

[1:52:03] And what's the other rate 5 six.

[1:52:08] No 5454.

[1:52:10] Thank you.

[1:52:11] So that's money we have to pay back.

[1:52:15] And we have to pay back in a short period of time.

[1:52:18] And so we finished the 21, 22, 23 audits.

[1:52:23] We pretty much know what our undesignated fund

[1:52:25] balances typically is.

[1:52:26] We know what the reserve accounts are.

[1:52:29] We're in a tenuous position.

[1:52:31] And sometimes you have to make the call.

[1:52:36] And I think personally, I think the firefighters

[1:52:42] is the one to move forward after revisiting this.

[1:52:45] And I know it's controversial.

[1:52:48] I know all these organizations do an excellent job.

[1:52:52] They're invested in their organization.

[1:52:54] They're trying to scramble and keep

[1:52:56] and do their missions, whatever their missions are

[1:52:59] going forward.

[1:53:01] But we're in a tenuous position financially,

[1:53:04] and it's every little thing adds to our financial position not

[1:53:11] getting better.

[1:53:12] We need to get better at this.

[1:53:15] An undesignated fund balance of 1.2 1.5 million to 1.6 1.7

[1:53:20] million is not enough for the size of this budget,

[1:53:23] and the reserve accounts are not enough for this size.

[1:53:26] Budget for the future.

[1:53:27] Even though we're consolidating when

[1:53:29] you look at roughly $1.8 million for reserves,

[1:53:32] that's not enough for this County.

[1:53:34] When you look at the undesignated fund balance,

[1:53:37] that's not enough for this County.

[1:53:38] And so how do we change our path.

[1:53:42] We have to change our path to get where we need to be more

[1:53:45] financially solid in this position that we're in now

[1:53:51] did not happen last year.

[1:53:52] This has happened over a period of years.

[1:53:56] And part of it and part of it is due in part

[1:53:59] to the medical position.

[1:54:01] It's happened over a period of years,

[1:54:02] and we have to start making different strides on this

[1:54:06] to get us in a better financial position, not

[1:54:09] only for the wellness of the County,

[1:54:10] but the wellness for people.

[1:54:12] If we're not well, then we can't deliver the services.

[1:54:17] And the services are 911.

[1:54:19] Deeds It's probate court, it's the deputies, it's EMA.

[1:54:24] If you look at the service that we provide,

[1:54:26] we're pretty streamlined as a County of the services

[1:54:29] that we provide, for the future.

[1:54:32] I think we need to be looking at our finances, tighten

[1:54:34] the finances up, and at the same time looking at the services

[1:54:37] that we should be providing for the future

[1:54:40] and how do we get there financially to do that.

[1:54:42] And I think for me, that's the big issue.

[1:54:45] So I think that explanation should have been given

[1:54:47] to these people instead of us approving them to then turn

[1:54:51] around two weeks later, not approval, because that's

[1:54:54] no different than the comment about leadership a year ago

[1:54:57] when my health insurance was taken away.

[1:55:00] All right.

[1:55:00] So I think that we should if we're going to be transparent.

[1:55:03] We didn't communicate it to them.

[1:55:04] We approved them, sent them on their way,

[1:55:07] told them that it was all good to go.

[1:55:08] And now we're sitting here saying that we're

[1:55:10] going to take it away.

[1:55:12] That's what we're talking.

[1:55:14] It was up to be taken away at any point between now

[1:55:17] and the end of the budget process,

[1:55:19] I us approving it pushes it to Budget Committee for the Budget

[1:55:23] Committee to have a chance.

[1:55:25] Those people left here two weeks ago with in their minds

[1:55:29] that we were on the same page with them.

[1:55:30] If we truly felt what Kevin is saying,

[1:55:33] we should have told them no and we should have voted it down.

[1:55:36]

[1:55:39] So what if we take a different approach to this.

[1:55:42] What if we just approve a total amount.

[1:55:47] And push it force to the Budget Committee.

[1:55:51] I'm not sold on this.

[1:55:55] We owe something for having made one decision two weeks ago.

[1:55:58] It's two weeks.

[1:56:00] These are, let's say, unprecedented times,

[1:56:03] tough decisions.

[1:56:04] People change their mind.

[1:56:05] We have the right to change our mind.

[1:56:08] And it's not good.

[1:56:11] It's not ideal.

[1:56:12] But I feel like I mean, you may be watching now,

[1:56:16] but I feel like we can communicate to this people,

[1:56:19] this to people.

[1:56:21] I think that we can do things to partner more strongly with some

[1:56:25] of these organizations.

[1:56:26] We've heard, we heard today that about the relationship

[1:56:30] between our garden and the Belfast soup kitchen.

[1:56:32] We can look for ways to better support them through things

[1:56:35] that we already do.

[1:56:37] We talk to Waldo and how can we better partner

[1:56:41] with these organizations.

[1:56:42] And just a quick example.

[1:56:45] I used to have a job where I was constantly pounding the pavement

[1:56:50] looking for either business sponsorships or dues

[1:56:52] or donations for events, and there was one business

[1:56:56] that every time their answer was the same,

[1:56:58] they said, we don't do this because we pay our employees

[1:57:01] a living wage, a living wage, and if they

[1:57:03] want to support community causes,

[1:57:05] they're in a better position to do that.

[1:57:07] And that's how I feel about the burden

[1:57:09] we place on our taxpayers.

[1:57:12] We do our job right, they'll be in a better position

[1:57:14] to support the better.

[1:57:15] The Belfast soup kitchen and Waldo cap and

[1:57:18] the Winslow community cupboard.

[1:57:20] I don't think we need to make that decision

[1:57:21] on their behalf, at least in the position

[1:57:24] that we're in right now.

[1:57:26] I'll call the question.

[1:57:28] Was there a motion on the table.

[1:57:29] There was.

[1:57:30] We were in discussion, and the motion

[1:57:32] is to approve $5,000 for the firefighters

[1:57:36] and 0 for everyone else.

[1:57:38]

[1:57:43] Thank you.

[1:57:44] Hold on just a second here before I proceed.

[1:57:48]

[1:57:54] All right, so we come.

[1:57:55] You want me to call the question.

[1:57:56] I just want to put on the table that

[1:57:57] I think in 24 appropriations was approved for $5,000.

[1:58:03] Is that right.

[1:58:04] Sounds right.

[1:58:05] If you're saying it there, I'm reading this right.

[1:58:07] It was probably for Waldo cap.

[1:58:11] That's right.

[1:58:12] Because I had to talk to.

[1:58:14] Was that 5 for Waldo, Captain.

[1:58:16] Yeah, yeah, because the firefighter association,

[1:58:20] they didn't apply that.

[1:58:21] They didn't.

[1:58:21] Yeah they were struggling.

[1:58:24]

[1:58:27] So the question has been called.

[1:58:28] All those in favor read the question back or just

[1:58:32] so we're clear and this is in the confines of appropriations.

[1:58:37] Correct At $5,000 be approved for the firefighters

[1:58:42] association and 0 for the others in the appropriations.

[1:58:47] Special appropriations.

[1:58:47] Say it again.

[1:58:48] You're talking $2,000 to approve,

[1:58:51] $5,000 to the firefighters and 0 for the others

[1:58:55] in the special other requests.

[1:58:57] OK yes.

[1:58:59] Questions been called.

[1:59:00] All those in favor.

[1:59:03] Aye Those opposed.

[1:59:06] Any abstentions.

[1:59:08] One abstention.

[1:59:09] Station or two in favor 1 abstention.

[1:59:12] Yes OK.

[1:59:13] Thank you.

[1:59:15] So it's at $5,000.

[1:59:18] Thank you for your arguments.

[1:59:21] And it's a tough call.

[1:59:22] It is a tough call.

[1:59:23] And I think to Tim's point about integrity,

[1:59:27] I think that we need to do some good communication

[1:59:30] with the organizations that requested,

[1:59:34] especially the organizations that we indicated support of.

[1:59:37] What do you mean, I don't know.

[1:59:39] Write a letter.

[1:59:41] Phone call, I don't know.

[1:59:43] So historically, in the past, if somebody has requested a funds,

[1:59:50] but it has not been approved by the commissioners,

[1:59:53] has it been put forth to the Budget Committee.

[1:59:57] So seeing that so really, even though you made a motion

[2:00:00] to approve $5,000, that's what you're saying

[2:00:03] you can bring forward.

[2:00:04] But that doesn't stop the Budget Committee from adding

[2:00:06] any of those categories.

[2:00:08] So those requests, those individual requests

[2:00:10] on those other organizations Waldo cap mid-coast, the two

[2:00:14] from Midcoast, the Belfast soup kitchen, Winslow community

[2:00:18] cupboard and that's it.

[2:00:22] That's it.

[2:00:23] The Budget Committee will be presented that information.

[2:00:25] They have the opportunity to add takeaway, add

[2:00:29] or take away, add or take away.

[2:00:31] All right.

[2:00:32] Now if you made a motion earlier back

[2:00:35] in June that said that you weren't going

[2:00:38] to ask for any special appropriations,

[2:00:41] you weren't accepting requests, then.

[2:00:43] No, the Budget Committee would not be getting that information.

[2:00:46] But they're still seeing the information.

[2:00:48] They are still seeing.

[2:00:49] I think that's a decision.

[2:00:50] But they can't add two special appropriations.

[2:00:54] If they want to fund Waldo cap, they

[2:00:57] can add to fund Waldo cap if they want to fund at all you're

[2:01:01] doing is they added things.

[2:01:02] Last year they said, oh, we don't think you

[2:01:04] have enough money budgeted for.

[2:01:05] I can't remember what it was.

[2:01:07] Audit or something, but they added

[2:01:08] special appropriations that were approved to go to them.

[2:01:12] These are no longer approved to go to them.

[2:01:15] You're making a recommendation of what you're going to fund.

[2:01:20] You're so me as a department head.

[2:01:22] I'm saying to the commissioners, it takes $100,000

[2:01:25] to operate my finance budget.

[2:01:28] You're telling me that.

[2:01:30] No, Carrie, I think you can do it for $50,000.

[2:01:33] I say, OK, the Budget Committee, that we can look at it

[2:01:36] and say, well, Carrie, I think 50 is too low.

[2:01:39] Hundreds too high.

[2:01:40] I'll give you 80,000.

[2:01:42] So we're just recommending nothing.

[2:01:44] You are making a recommendation at the end of the day,

[2:01:47] and they can change their minds.

[2:01:48] They can add or subtract.

[2:01:50] They can't.

[2:01:51] All right.

[2:01:52] Can I add to that.

[2:01:53] That happened to me exactly about 10 years ago.

[2:01:57] The commissioners cut my overtime budget.

[2:01:59] I took out $75,000.

[2:02:03] No Budget Committee was started because the chairman

[2:02:06] of the Budget Committee said to me, can you live with that.

[2:02:10] Without that.

[2:02:11] And I said, no, I can't.

[2:02:12] But I guess the commissioners have

[2:02:13] to figure out how to fund it because I can't lock the doors.

[2:02:17] So Budget Committee funded it.

[2:02:19] So they do it well, like.

[2:02:25] And so same thing happened to salt water

[2:02:27] I think three years ago.

[2:02:28] Soil and water lost their funding.

[2:02:30] No, they got well they got it back.

[2:02:33] Was it cut in half or something.

[2:02:35] There was three or four motions that went.

[2:02:37] And then it was finally, I think,

[2:02:40] settled to give them their full request, the full

[2:02:42] request or maybe 25,000.

[2:02:45] Something to that effect.

[2:02:46] All right.

[2:02:49] Brief, we got through two of your questions.

[2:02:53] Third one, is there a third one.

[2:02:56] Let me see.

[2:02:58] Do we have a County garden breakdown of that line item.

[2:03:01] Do we have an idea of what that gets spent on.

[2:03:05] That is actually in the Sheriff's budget.

[2:03:07] But it's just one line item.

[2:03:09] It's one line and it's a large one.

[2:03:11] So I'm curious how that's being spent.

[2:03:13] I know that the garden is important in general,

[2:03:17] and also important because it's part of our eligibility

[2:03:21] to receive funding for the work we do with the reentry center.

[2:03:24] But I'm curious how much it has to cost us.

[2:03:27] I know that there's been some changes that's happened there,

[2:03:30] so I don't know what those expenses look like.

[2:03:32] I don't remember.

[2:03:36] Seeing anything to break that breaks that garden project down.

[2:03:42] And I think some has historically

[2:03:45] come out of community corrections funds

[2:03:47] is that that's a separate.

[2:03:49] Yeah so it's not just one place.

[2:03:54] So well the garden is the CCA.

[2:03:57]

[2:04:00] Or I can ask Matt Magnusson if he has a breakdown of that.

[2:04:06] Yeah so you want to see an additional breakdown

[2:04:08] of that aggregate number on that line item.

[2:04:11] Yes OK.

[2:04:12] That's it for that's it for my questions.

[2:04:15] That was it for your questions.

[2:04:16] Yeah it was only like an hour of discussion.

[2:04:19] Any other.

[2:04:20] You don't want my questions.

[2:04:22] All right.

[2:04:23] Kevin I'm learning not to poke the bear twice.

[2:04:29] Kevin yes, ma'am.

[2:04:30] We need to go into an executive session for personnel matters.

[2:04:33] All right.

[2:04:34] Any other open questions for the Budget Committee.

[2:04:37] Treasurer do you have anything.

[2:04:38] Ellen?

[2:04:39] no.

[2:04:40] So it's executive session.

[2:04:43] Subchapter 405 the first and second.

[2:04:48] Motion carries.

[2:04:50] Thank you.

[2:04:51] And I'm sure we're off record.

[2:04:52] It's just that this is going to be the last item, I think.

[2:04:55] I think so.

[2:04:56] All right.

[2:04:56]

[2:05:08] Oops are we back on record.

[2:05:44]

[2:05:49] Are we back on.

[2:05:50] Or do you think.

[2:05:51] Yes no.

[2:05:52] Yes You never know.

[2:05:54] Yes, I never know.

[2:05:55] No talkie.

[2:05:55]

[2:05:58] For the green thing.

[2:06:01] We gotta figure this out.

[2:06:02] We need a signal.

[2:06:03] Good I just hate yelling.

[2:06:05] So we're all set.

[2:06:06] All right, so this is Waldo County court session.

[2:06:09] We're back after executive session.

[2:06:11] This is September three.

[2:06:13] We need to take some action based on our executive session.

[2:06:17] I move we incorporate the market rate adjustments

[2:06:21] for the following positions in the 2027

[2:06:26] commissioner's budget proposal.

[2:06:28] The positions are.

[2:06:29] Communications County clerk investigator at DA office.

[2:06:36] Manager at da deeds, EMA director, facilities director.

[2:06:43] Finance director, Judge of probate, probate and Sheriff.

[2:06:49] Do I have a second.

[2:06:50] Second We have a first and I have a second.

[2:06:52] Is there any more discussion.

[2:06:56] Hearing none.

[2:06:56] I'll call the question.

[2:06:57] All those in favor.

[2:06:59] Motion carries unanimously.

[2:07:00] Any other business before the court.

[2:07:02]

[2:07:05] We're adjourned without form.

[2:07:08] Thank you very much.

[2:07:08] Have a great day.

[2:07:09]

[2:07:12] I'm not going to take this home.

[2:07:13] I need to focus on other stuff right now.

[2:07:14] But thank you for the offer.

[2:07:16] I'll leave it underneath here.

[2:07:20] All righty.

[2:07:20]

[2:07:29] I think I have a new gray hair since I got here today.

[2:07:34] Every meeting I say to my son.

[2:07:36] I am so glad that you got a party.

[2:07:39] Oh, thanks.

[2:07:40] I think we have a good team.

[2:07:42] Well, you'll be four years in come November.

[2:07:49] I don't know if that's a good thing.

[2:07:51] In July.

September 3, 2026 Waldo County Commissioners' Regular Court Session

Agenda

Transcript