Lincoln County may receive surveillance equipment from the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to monitor the perimeter around Maine Yankee, Sheriff Todd Brackett told county commissioners Tuesday.

Brackett said he had an "unscheduled visit" with representatives of Homeland Security and MEMA recently about improving the surveillance around the site of the now-dismantled nuclear power plant. Nuclear waste is still stored at the site, just off the Ferry Road in Wiscasset.

Brackett told the commissioners this is a nation wide effort to increase security at different sites around the country, and Maine Yankee is one of these. The purpose of the surveillance equipment is to increase the first responders' ability to detect a problem, he said. If the county gets the equipment it will be installed at the communications center because the center has 24 hours a day, seven days a week coverage, he said.

Brackett said representatives from Homeland Security and MEMA met with Wiscasset Police Lieut. John Allen to ask what the local department could use to be better prepared to respond to an incident at the site. Allen provided them with a list of items the police department could use.

According to Brackett, MEMA is requesting a grant for $100,000 to pay for the equipment.

Brackett said efforts to improve security around the site perimeter began before the recent hunting incident at the end of October, when a hunter fired shots from the Ferry Road at deer standing on the Maine Yankee land. The hunter has since been charged by the Maine Warden Service with firing a weapon from a public paved road.

In other sheriff's department business the commissioners approved Brackett's recommendation of transferring Todd Chilton from transportation officer to patrol officer in a full-time temporary position. Chilton will fill one of the two open slots in the patrol division. His position in transportation will be terminated the first of the year.

The commissioners will review new job descriptions in the sheriff's department, and delete other job descriptions that related to the previous jail, such as jail administrator, corrections officers, and others.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 37 inmates from Lincoln County at Two Bridges Regional Jail, 25 inmates are either on house arrest, in diversion programs, or are being monitored.

Debbie Tibbetts has been appointed acting county administrator for three months, (January, February, and March) during the absence of administrator James McMahon.

Tibbetts is currently serving as the deputy administrator for administrative services at the commissioner's office. She has been an employee with the county for nearly 14 years.

During the next three months she will be providing a duel role for the county, fulfilling both positions, administrator for administrative services, and acting county administrator.

"I'm really excited about this appointment," Tibbetts said.

Two county employees were recognized for saving the county money.

James Hopler, Maintenance Supervisor, and Nancy Giles, Deputy County Administrator, were both given a $400 bonus, and a certificate of recognition.

Commissioner William Blodgett read the citations.

Hopler was recognized for his hard work on several county projects that are now coming to a successful completion. "By your diligence in seeking competitive prices and your commitment to always obtaining the best price possible you have saved a considerable amount of money for the county and its taxpayers. Accordingly, and on the recommendation of the County Administrator, we are pleased to award you a $400 bonus," Blodgett said.

Giles was recognized for her hard work in developing, refining and now enforcing the new county time sheet policy and for her efforts over the years in producing the county budget in its computerized format.

"By working closely with the department heads, and the treasurer's office to ensure that timesheets conform to the Fair Labor Standards Act, county policies, and our collective bargaining agreements, you serve as the final check in the payroll process," the citation said.

Hopler told the commissioners the under slab heating system in the outside patio at the back entrance to the courthouse is not working as it should.

Commissioner Sheridan Bond told Hopler to put the contractor on notice that there is a problem that has to be corrected. "It is their problem," he said.

"The county has to demand more from their vendors," McMahon said. "That has to stop. We have not accepted the job as complete, and have held payment until we are satisfied with the job. They will fix the problem."

A recent unannounced courthouse evacuation drill has prompted training for county department heads.

The commissioners authorized EMA Director Tim Pellerin to develop training to raise awareness among the employees, and to ensure the county has better compliance within the courthouse for evacuation.

Pellerin also told the commissioners he is going to form a 20-20 Vision Committee to meet monthly to discuss the future of the fire service in Lincoln County. The committee will be made up of fire chiefs, firefighters, and selectmen, and other interested parties.

"The EMS and law enforcement in Lincoln County are superb. It is the fire service that is the weak link," Pellerin said.

In other business, the commissioners approved Toumi Electric to install a new fire alarm system for the courthouse at a cost of $4,900.

The commissioners also approved a request from District Attorney Geoff Rushlau to allow the flextime policy to change from one-hour increments to one-quarter hour increments for the employees in his office.