A decision by the state Department of Corrections to close one housing unit at the Long Creek Youth Center in South Portland will cost Lincoln County about $50,000 a year, county commissioners were told Tuesday.

Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett said he had received a letter from Bartlett Stoodley, Associate Commissioner of Juvenile Services, saying that as of March 17 all male detained juveniles from the county must be taken to the Mountain View Youth Center in Charleston, instead of to South Portland.

Other counties impacted by this mandate are Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, and Oxford Counties.

Brackett told the commissioners this will require a significant change in travel time and expenses.

"Currently a round trip to South Portland ranges from 90 minutes to two hours, with one deputy," Brackett said. "Travel to Charleston will at least double, ranging from four to four and a half hours round trip, requiring two officers." The longer distance is the reason for the second deputy, he said.

Chief Deputy Kenneth Mason told the commissioners with the price of gas and the extra mileage, along with the extra deputy, each trip could cost nearly $200, figuring the deputies are working on straight time, not overtime.

"We average approximately six juveniles per month, with each juvenile requiring at least four trips. The impact to the county is not terribly significant; however, I feel strongly that any impact is unacceptable," Brackett said. "The state would like to balance their budget on the backs of the taxpayers. When is enough, enough?" he asked.

Lincoln County is not as impacted as Androscoggin, according to Brackett, because Androscoggin has an average of 25 juveniles per month that will need to be transported to Charleston.

"I realize that this situation will have logistical and fiscal impacts on you," Stoodley wrote. "Please be assured that the Department of Corrections will work diligently to mitigate these impacts, especially relating to the detained juveniles and their families. However, this situation cannot be avoided at this time. Due to the projected budget reductions, this situation is expected to be in effect for the next several years."

With the closing of this and another housing unit, the state will be able to eliminate 16 positions, which is part of proposal to cut over 100 state jobs in an effort to cover a $190 million shortfall in state revenue.

"The Department of Corrections is cutting their budget at the expense of the taxpayer," Brackett said. "This is not the county's problem. It's a state problem. I want to know when we can say `no' to their demands."

The commissioners will try to meet with state legislators to brief them on the impact these proposals will have statewide.

Brackett reported there are 30 Lincoln County inmates at the Two Bridges Regional Jail, compared to 53 inmates from Sagadahoc County.

The projected inmate count for Lincoln is 57 percent, with Sagadahoc 43 percent, which is how the operational expense to each county is based. The past few months has seen an increase in the Sagadahoc inmates. Should that trend continue, it would mean that Lincoln County would have a rebate at the end of the fiscal year, and Sagadahoc County would pay an additional amount.

The commissioners accepted the recommendation of Brackett to purchase two new cruisers, and one SUV, all budgeted items: one cruiser from Wiscasset Ford, one Dodge from Newcastle Dodge, and the SUV from Wiscasset Ford. The county received six bids for the cruisers, and two bids for the SUV.

Wiscasset Ford was the low bidder for the SUV at $25,098. The cruiser from Newcastle Dodge will cost the county $20,704, and the cost of the Ford from Wiscasset Ford is $21,113.

Brackett told the commissioners he would like to hire two part-time deputies, which would bring the part-time officers up to 10. Two candidates' names were submitted: Scott Mercher, a police officer from Boothbay Harbor, and Richard Saxon, a sergeant at the Two Bridges Regional Jail. The commissioners will review their applications and make a decision at their next meeting, April 1.

The commissioners accepted a bid from Midcoast Electric to install efficiency lighting in the courthouse that is estimated to save the county 20 percent a month. The cost to the county will be about $12,000 which includes a $4,000 rebate from Efficiency Maine, a program of the Maine Utilities Commission that provides cash incentives for installation of energy-efficient electric products.

According to Maintenance Supervisor Jim Hopler, the county's electric bill for the courthouse averages $3,100 per month. With a 20 percent reduction it could save the county about $7,500 the first year, paying for itself in less than two years.

Emergency Management Director Tim Pellerin told the commissioners a Homeland Security Drill will be hosted by the Wiscasset School Department in mid-fall at no cost to the county or the school department. Homeland Security money will be used for the event.

Pellerin said he applauded School Superintendent Jay McIntire for his efforts in having the entire school staff of the Wiscasset School System trained in Basic Incident Command.

About 100 school employees, including bus drivers, food service workers, custodial staff, administrators, teachers, and secretaries will attend an eight-hour training class, Friday, March 28 at Wiscasset High School. Pellerin said he knew of no other school in the state that has given this training to the entire staff.

In other business the commissioners appointed Chief Deputy Major Kenneth Mason as an alternate to the Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority.

Mike Thompson, Recycling Supervisor, was given authorization to sell the county's paper shredder for $4,500. Thompson told the commissioners the shredder had not been used for several years, and was no longer needed by the county.