Lincoln County Emergency Management (EMA) director Tim Pellerin told the commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning that his department helped in the Newcastle house fire on the Walker Point Friday, September 14 with mutual aid from Damariscotta, Bristol, Nobleboro, Jefferson, South Bristol and Alna.

According to Pellerin, the mutual aid and the training the county has been able to provide for the fire fighters has been very beneficial to county residents.

"EMA is a resource throughout the county," Pellerin said. "We get the necessary resource to the site, and allocate the mutual aid where it is needed."

Pellerin told the commissioners that 35 Lincoln County firefighters will graduate from the fire academy next month that has been provided by the county at a cost of $200 each. The training included firefighting, hazardous materials, emergency medical response, and basic rescue. The graduates will be certified Level II firefighters

The commissioners accepted, with regret, the retirement letter of Darren Maxcy, an employee of the communications center for 20 years.

"He is a model employee," Pellerin said. "He is always respectful and upfront with me if something needs to be fixed. I wish I could make a carbon copy of him."

The commissioners approved four change orders to the courthouse patio project, increasing the estimated $157,000 cost by about $6,000.

The commissioners approved a request from Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett to promote Robert McFetridge to detective effective September 28. Brackett said three deputies from the department applied for the position, and they all scored very well. Chad Gilbert, the high scorer, declined the position.

The commissioners also approved out-of-state training for two detectives in Charleston, S.C. The cost to the county will be about $1,300, which is the cost of two round trip plane tickets. McFetridge and J.C. Allan will attend the training.

The inmate count for Lincoln County inmates at the Two Bridges Regional Jail is 40, with 17 inmates on diversion programs with the Volunteers of America and five inmates either on house arrest or a monitor.

The commissioners appointed Kathy Blagden, Marcia Silva, and Debbie Tibbets to the Maine Association of Counties.

The Lincoln and Sagadahoc commissioners will meet October 2, at 10 a.m. to discuss Governor John Baldacci's proposal to take over county jails. The request for the meeting came from Sagadahoc County commissioners.