Student artist designs a logo for Piscataquis County

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County has never had a logo of its own, instead various emblems and icons have been used over the years. That has all changed with a student logo contest. Fourteen submissions came in and SeDoMoCha Middle School eighth-grader Dean Gallagher had his design chosen by a panel of judges as the winning work of art to go on the county flag, letterhead, online, and more.

Gallagher was recognized at the start of Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Piscataquis County Commissioners, as he was joined by family members and his art teacher.

“It was an excellent drawing,” Commissioners Andy Torbett said as he handed Gallagher a framed plaque and envelope with a $100 cash prize which came from an anonymous benefactor.

County Manager Mike Williams said the contest was open to students in schools across the region, as well as home-schoolers. “The idea was Piscataquis County didn’t have a logo/seal,” he said. “It was what they envisioned as Piscataquis County” to celebrate the region’s heritage and beauty.

Williams said a few adjustments will need to be made to ready Gallagher’s logo for use, so a timeline for rolling it out is to be determined.

Other Maine counties have logos on county websites, but Piscataquis County has never had one of its own. Williams broached the idea of designing an official logo for Piscataquis County when he first took on the position, and it came up again more recently after Commissioner Paul Davis asked for business cards. 

In other business, the commissioners approved agreements for the operation and maintenance of the Lily Bay and Orneville transfer stations as well as the transportation of waste and recycling of solid waste from each facility. The four various agreements are all extensions with Moosehead Rubbish which is owned by Sean Bolen.  

Williams said last year the commissioners told him that if Bolen proposed a reasonable contract increase, then to go with it. The county manager said Bolen proposed a 3 percent increase and this is reflected in the four agreements.

For Lily Bay the rate will be $66,950 per year for three years for operation and $2,060 per year for three years for transportation. In Orneville the respective rates are $41,200 and $2,060 per year over three years.

In his report, Williams said he has heard from road consultant Carl Henderson about half a dozen-plus road signs being stolen in the Unorganized Territories. 

Williams said signs cost between $50 and $70. He said if Henderson was to travel to a remote location such as Churchill Dam in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway to erect a new sign then it may be a five to six hour trip plus mileage.

“Some of these signs are costing $300-$400 to put up so when people are taking these I hope they remember that,” Williams said. 

He also said cones, such as those placed around washouts or frost heaves, have gone missing and these cost about $25-$30. The county manager said he ordered a dozen cones last year and may need to do likewise in 2023.

“It just puts one more strain on the budget, it doesn’t sound like much but over time it adds up,” Williams said.

He also mentioned the adjusted commissioners meeting schedule for next month and August. To avoid a conflict on the Fourth of July, the sessions will instead be on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. August will also have meetings the second and fourth Tuesdays, with the regular first and third Tuesday schedule resuming in September.

Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency Director Jaeme Duggan said a busy time for exercises has arrived. She said Northern Light C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville recently conducted an active shooter deal, and her agency participated and helped evaluate it.

Duggan said she continues to work on a countywide plan for school shootings and responses, and is awaiting the status of a related grant application.