The county is working on E911 addresses for unorganized territories.
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – The temporary absence of two sheriff’s deputies led county commissioners to appoint two reserve officers Tuesday.

Deputy Ken Charles has been stationed in Iraq since early last year, and Deputy David Rackliffe began his 18 weeks at the criminal justice academy this week.

Edward Hastings and Stephen Smith were appointed as reserve deputies to fill in.

Hastings, of Chesterville, has been working for the Carrabassett Valley Police Department, Sheriff Dennis Pike said.

Smith, who works for Jay’s police force, will help patrol the county when needed, Pike said.

Addressing officer sought

The county’s Enhanced 911 addressing officer, Deborah Hodge, has resigned, leaving behind a part-time temporary position that needs to be filled.

County Clerk Julie Magoon said there is still work to be done to get all of the residences in the unorganized territories new E911 addresses.

“This is going to be a forever ongoing project,” she said.

Commissioners agreed to post the position locally and on the Maine Municipal Association’s Web site. Pay is $8 an hour and Magoon said there is about 20 hours worth of work per week at least for the next year.

Promotion approved

Diane Serino of the Franklin County Detention Center was promoted to a full-time shift supervisor on Tuesday by commissioners.

Serino has been serving as shift supervisor at the jail since late last year when Sgt. Lincoln Haines took a 12-week leave due to health reasons.

Vehicle shopping

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department will be soliciting bids soon for a new four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle and two four-wheel drive sedans, all with police packages.

The county will try to trade in three Ford Crown Victorias.

There is $72,000 in the budget for new vehicles.

Hearing set for April

A petition from a New Vineyard resident asking for better maintenance of Lowell Drive was put on hold.

Irene Lowell of 31 Lowell Drive has written to commissioners regarding what she described as poor winter maintenance of the road by the town. The petition was also signed by Mike Lowell of Stratton and Cecile Lowell of New Vineyard.

All three commissioners have looked at the problems, one of which is that snow falls off of the pitched roof of a mobile home situated on Lowell Drive and falls in the road. The trailer is so close to the road that it’s hard to plow in front of the home without plowing the residents in, Commissioner Gary McGrane said.

The town, he said, has continued to put the issue on the back burner.

Commissioners agreed they want to resolve the issue, but said it would be better to look at the road when the snow had melted a bit. A public hearing has been set for 9 a.m. on April 20 to take place at the entrance of Lowell Drive.

Highway repairs

Commissioners voiced strong support for repairing Route 156 in Perkins and Washington townships.

The Maine Department of Transportation sent commissioners a map of its proposed improvement plans in the county over the next six years and asked if commissioners could select any proposed projects they thought should take priority.

Commissioners Gary McGrane said Route 156 is a “major concern for commissioners.”

Other roads highlighted by the department include Route 156 in Wilton, Route 41 in Chesterville/New Sharon, Route 43 between Industry and Starks, and Route 16 between Rangeley and Coplin Plantation.

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