Piscataquis County seeks $1 million grant to support opioid-related programs

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Piscataquis County has applied for a $1 million federal grant that if awarded would provide funding for a jail nurse and benefit three other regional organizations.

Sheriff Bob Young told the Piscataquis County Commissioners about a grant opportunity he recently learned about through the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance during a Tuesday morning meeting.

“It’s a grant that will be given to five rural counties in the country,” he said.

The recipient will receive $1 million over three years. The county would collaborate with the Recovery Wellness Community Center, Helping Hands with Heart and CourageLIVES.

“It would allow those three organizations to do more work in our county,” Young said.

“For the jail it would mean that we could hire a full-time registered nurse,” he said. “Per diem, so they wouldn’t become an employee and the emphasis would be a medically-assisted treatment program.” 

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program, formerly the Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program, was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act legislation.

The program provides financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government and tribal governments to develop, implement or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants and other drugs.

In other business, the commissioners approved spending $8,850 to remove the old flagpoles on the upper level of the courthouse. Money for the work is in the maintenance budget.

A lift with 125-foot reach would be $5,500 to rent for a week, Head of Maintenance Josh York said. The cutting and capping work could take more than one day and renting the lift for just two days is not as cost effective as a week, he said. There are other projects on the county campus that are too high to be reached with a ladder.

Specialty saw blades and labor costs are also part of the expenditure. The Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department would direct traffic along East Main Street while work is being done as the flagpoles can only be reached from this direction due to power lines.

In years past the fire department used its ladder truck to put up and take down flags, but the lack of access led to the flags deteriorating quicker than having the ropes at ground level.

In 2024 new flag poles built into the ground were dedicated.

Those involved in the $6.9 million emergency radio system project have been meeting to look at coverage maps, County Manager Mike Williams said. 

“We are trying to line it up to get the best coverage for the best amount of money,” he said.

The endeavor to fix the county’s emergency personnel radio communications has been years in the making. Since 2020, Piscataquis County and municipal emergency officials have been updating outdated infrastructure and finding solutions to issues stemming from the hilly and mountainous terrain of the region. 

There are many moving parts to a radio system, especially with the county not owning all the infrastructure. With many sites being leased, tower owners will need to be involved and engineers will need to conduct structural analyses. 

Commissioners signed the 2026 Maine County Emergency Management Mutual Aid Agreement.

The agreement is in place for EMA directors across the state to help each other in times of crisis, Piscataquis County EMA Director Debra Hamlin said.

The agency hosted a critical incident training exercise at Foxcroft Academy on April 21 (during school vacation week).

“First responders worked very well together. We were incredibly happy,” Hamlin said. The hope is to have another exercise next year.

Police, fire and emergency medical services practiced techniques and test procedures in preparation for potential mass events in the area.

County EMA helped with the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis’ 52nd annual Piscataquis River Race on April 25.

“We had 52 boats and that all went without a hitch, they had good weather,” Hamlin said.

On May 3 the agency hosted tank truck rollover training at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena with 40 participants (photos and videos are at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064370452781).

“We are especially grateful to the instructors, drivers and agencies who volunteered their time and equipment to help train first responders on the dangers and complexities of hazardous materials transported by tanker trucks,” a post on the EMA Facebook page said.

“We remain committed to providing valuable training opportunities that strengthen the knowledge, preparedness, and safety of our first responders and the communities they serve. We truly appreciate the strong collaboration and dedication shown by everyone involved.”

“Our pool is completely up and running,” Piscataquis Area Community Center Executive Director Manda Stewart said. Swim lessons are being held three and four days a week, the swim team began practicing the day prior and a full-time aquatics director has been hired.

“It’s finally starting to look like it’s complete,” she said about the Park Street facility that formerly was the home of the Piscataquis Regional YMCA. “The pool is beautiful and I’m happy to show it off.”

“Our memberships are growing every single day, there’s tons of people coming in,” Stewart said.

The Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ mobile branch is coming to the center parking lot on the first and last Wednesday of the month.

“They were here for the first time last Wednesday and they had a line and they got through every single person that was there,” Stewart said.