PISCATAQUIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 6, 2018 Dover-Foxcroft, ME Minutes 8:30 a.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the minutes of their October 16, 2018 meeting. M: James Annis S: James White V: 2:0. County Commissioner, Wayne Erkkinen abstained from voting because he did not attend the meeting, 2. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the County expenditures in the amount of $16,477.79. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 3. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved a special County expenditure in the amount of $1,601,818.26. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 4. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the Jail expenditures in the amount of $8,779.13. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 5. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the Unorganized Territory expenditures in the amount of $51,835.49. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 6. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved a special Unorganized Territory expenditure in the amount of $51.63. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 7. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the Payroll Warrant for Oct. 18, 2018 in the amount of $129,813.23. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 8. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the Payroll Warrant for November 1, 2018 in the amount of $123,347.03. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 9. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and approved the Employee Benefit Warrant in the amount of $74,765.78. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 10. Piscataquis County Commissioners renewed and approved the annual contract with the Town of Monson for fire protection services in Blanchard and Elliottsville townships. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3:0 11. Piscataquis County Commissioners renewed and approved the annual contract with the Town of Monson for solid waste disposal services in Blanchard and Elliottsville townships. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0
12. Piscataquis County Commissioners reviewed and signed the decision on tax abatement request by Mark Dyer, Victor Dyer and Aurelie Wallach vs. the Town of Guilford. M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3-0 After fully hearing the evidence and arguments upon the matters under consideration, and after carefully considering the same, the Piscataquis County Commissioners find the evidence presented by the Petitioners does not support a conclusion that the assessed value is manifestly wrong. We hereby vote to deny the applicant s abatement request and to affirm the Town of Guilford s assessment of the subject property. The Petitioners have 60 days from the date this notice is received to appeal this decision to Maine Superior Court. 13. Piscataquis County Commissioners approved line-item transfer of $10,000.00 from account #100-07-010 (Elliotsville - summer) to account #100-02-010 (Big Moose summer). M: James Annis S: Wayne Erkkinen V: 3:0 14. a. County Manager, Thomas Lizotte - County Manager Tom Lizotte said Fred Trask from Trask Insurance of Milo has asked to provide a quote for the county s liability, property and auto coverage, which is now provided through the MCCA Risk Pool. Piscataquis County has already completed the renewal process with the Risk Pool for insurance coverage in 2019, and has missed the deadline for notifying the Risk Pool of any potential intent to withdraw before the end of the calendar year. Lizotte said if Commissioners were interested in seeking quotes outside the Risk Pool, he could develop a formal Request for Proposal and seek bids next summer. b. County Treasurer, Johanna Greenfield no comment c. Jail Administrator, Maria Landry did not attend d. Sheriff, John Goggin did not attend e. EMA Director, Tom Capraro did not attend f. Probate Register Donna Peterson did not attend g. Deeds Register, Linda Smith did not attend h. DA Administrative, Chris Almy did not attend i. Head of Maintenance, Joshua York did not attend Other Business: Piscataquis County since 2003 has directed a portion of the payment in lieu of taxes received from the U.S. Department of the Interior to Appalachian Trail maintenance and reconstruction projects. The county receives $34,000 in federal PILT funds for the 257 miles of the AT in Piscataquis, and uses $19,000 to reduce taxes in the Unorganized Territory budget. The remaining $15,000 is returned to the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) to support the summer trail crew that rebuilds targeted sections of the AT in Piscataquis County. Those funds also support the ridge runner stewardship program in the popular Gulf Hagas section.
Lester Kenway, MATC president, and Bruce Grant of Dover-Foxcroft, MATC Executive Committee member, appeared before Piscataquis County Commissioners to express their appreciation for county funding. Kenway said the MATC has invested $450,000 in Piscataquis County for trail improvements on the AT. Of the 92,000 hiker days logged on the AT in a typical season, about half of that hiker volume is seen in Piscataquis County, location of the 100-Mile Wilderness section. Kenway stated the AT is an economic engine for trail towns like Monson, where hikers stop for lodging, and to purchase groceries and other resupply needs. The MATC trail crew is based in Dover-Foxcroft and also provides a positive economic impact in that community. Kenway and Grant said MATC trail crew expenses are paid by a combination of funds from the National Park Service, state Bureau of Public Lands recreational trails program, Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County funds and some private grant. Executive session Piscataquis County Commissioners voted to enter executive session under MRS Title I, 405-A, 6. D. to discuss the progress of labor contract negotiations at 9:37 a.m. M: Annis S: Erkkinen V: 3-0 Commissioners voted to exit executive session at 9:56 a.m. M: Annis S: Erkkinen V: 3-0 Following executive session, Commissioners voted to sign a new collective bargaining agreement with the administrative unit of the Piscataquis Sheriff s Department, covering the period from 2019 to 2021. M: Annis S: Erkkinen V: 3-0 Meeting adjourned at 9:57 a.m.