The Lincoln County Commissioners decided Tuesday to begin their review of the 2008 budget on Tuesday, November 13 at 9 a.m.

The budget advisory committee completed their work on the budget October 25, without a presentation from the Time and Tide Resource Conservation & Development group. At their meeting this week a representative from the Time and Tide asked the commissioners to consider allowing them to make their presentation before the final budget is approved. The commissioners agreed to allow them another opportunity to present their budget.

The Commissioners approved a request from Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett to sell 107 forfeited firearms to Tristate Firearms for $7,765. Tristate was the highest of three bidders for the firearms.

Brackett asked permission to use the money received from the guns to reduce his budget request in his firearms capital account. The commissioners told Brackett they will make that consideration when reviewing the budget

Lincoln County Deputy Kevin Dennison has been called to active in the Maine National Guard. Dennison, a helicopter pilot, is being deployed to Iraq. He will report for duty November 26.

The commissioners approved a long-term military leave for Dennison, and agreed to fill the position temporarily, pending Dennison's return from active duty.

Brackett presented two draft policies - one for flex time the other for outside details. The flextime policy will only apply to the Sheriff's Department, and the outside detail policy applies to the sheriff's department and the communication center.

The special detail policy, if adopted by the commissioners, will increase the amount of pay to the deputy and to the county.

Currently if a town has a special event that requires the Sheriff's department, the cost to that town is $36 per hour, $30 dollars to the deputy, and $6 to the county. The only exception is for school events, when the charge for schools is time and a half pay for the deputy, with nothing coming back to the county.

The new policy will not change the cost for school events. It will increase the cost for other special details. The cost to the town will be $50 per hour per deputy, with $35 to the deputy, and $15 to the county.

The new policy will ask for additional cost per hour for vehicles. The standard county vehicle when used as part of a special detail will cost $12 per hour. The communications mobile command vehicle when used as part of the special detail will cost $75 per hour.

The commissioners will review both policies, and make any recommended changes before their next meeting.

Brackett's request to hire a part-time patrol officer, and a part-time court security officer were approved by the Commissioners. Justin Drake was hired as a part-time patrol officer and will begin his training immediately. David Spector was hired as a part-time court security officer pending the two-week waiting period.

Emergency Management Director Tim Pellerin received authorization to begin the process of advertising for the operations training position, pending budget approval.

Pellerin requested $8,000 in his budget to hire a training assistant for the county, and the budget committee recommended the appropriation. However, the final decsion is up to the commissioners.

Pellerin interrupted the sheriff's report to say. "This is only a drill, by Homeland Security. As part of this drill it is my duty to tell you that an earthquake has hit Maine Yankee, and one of the casks is on its side. I have closed off Westport Island. It is only a drill," he said for the second time. After his brief interruption Pellerin apologized, the commissioner's continued with their meeting, and no one heard anymore about the drill.

Lincoln County Treasurer Don Williams told the commissioners Tuesday morning, that all the towns in the county had paid their county taxes with the exception of Westport Island and Somerville.