The Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority has narrowed down their choice of Correctional Administrator for the Two Bridges Regional Jail to three people, according to Jail Authority Chairman Sheridan Bond. A selection and offer will be made soon to fill the position.

Colonel Wayne Applebee, who holds the position now, has accepted a job in Sarasota County, Fla.

The authority held their monthly meeting Wednesday, December 5, with Assistant Correctional Administrator Mark Anderson filling in for Applebee.

Anderson told the authority the state Department of Corrections would like to board more inmates at Two Bridges, but they are concerned about where the money will come from to pay the costs.

Of the 19 inmates being boarding at the jail now from the State Prison in Warren, seven are from Waldo County, and two are from Somerset.

The estimated revenue from boarding inmates by this time of year was over $581,000; the actual revenue is about $529,000, about $52,000 less.

Anderson told the authority that representatives from the U.S. Marshall Service have visited the jail, and may be interested in boarding federal inmates. However, he said he has not received any further information since their visit.

Anderson also reported there are currently eight staffing vacancies. However, there are four new candidates that are now in training, leaving openings for four employees.

A request from Waldo County to house maximum security inmates at the jail, as a secondary housing facility for maximum security inmates on a case by case basis was explained to the jail authority. Applebee has approved the request.

Anderson said he has no problem with Two Bridges being a secondary facility for the maximum security inmates, but he cautioned the authority they would have to be careful because the facility only has four maximum security beds and they must be prepared to house their own inmates in maximum security if required.

The agreement with Waldo County includes accepting medium and minimum security inmates; offering good time to the inmates who qualify to work in the industries program to earn a day off their sentence for every two days they work in the program; and to provide secondary housing for maximum security inmates on a case-by-case basis.

Waldo County is restricted from housing maximum security inmates because of space. Waldo County has contracted with York County to serve as their first facility.

The question of whether Two Bridges receives more money for housing maximum security inmates. Anderson said he did not know, but would check into finding the answer.

The Department of Corrections made a site visit to Two Bridges in October to determine the number of inmates the facility can house. According to a report from the department, the facility has the capability of holding up to 225 inmates.

The department licensed the facility in November 2006 for 170 inmates.