The high cost of this year's fuel was on the minds of the Lincoln County Commissioners Tuesday morning when they discussed and declined a proposal from M.W. Sewall for $4.457 per gallon.

The commissioners decided to wait until late July and go out to bid again in hopes the cost of fuel will go down.

Due to a recent survey sent to the towns in Lincoln County to determine if there is enough interest in the county expanding its Universal Waste collection, the commissioners instructed the County Administrator to take the next step in the process and set up a meeting with representatives of the towns and with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection.

County Administrator James McMahon told the commissioners he had received several responses showing an interest.

The county had a copier that had been deemed surplus property, and according to procedure, sent a letter to towns within the county asking if they need it. McMahon received requests from Dresden and Jefferson. "It is up to you to decide," he said.

Commissioner Sheridan Bond removed himself from that decision, since he is from Jefferson, and is Assistant Fire Chief there.

Commissioner William Blodgett asked Commissioner Kenneth Honey if he would agree to have the names of the two towns put in a hat and have a drawing. Honey agreed. Jefferson was the winner. Dresden will be the next on the list to receive a copier when one becomes surplus property.

Emergency Management Director Tim Pellerin told the commissioners he has used 47 percent of his budget, within the first half year. Pellerin also introduced a county EMA quarterly newsletter that is being sent to 19 towns. He commended his Deputy Director Kimberly Kaiser for her job in tracking the budget, and working on the newsletter.

Included in the newsletter is information on upcoming events, such as the Maine State Federation Firefighters Convention in Boothbay, September 11 through September 14. The Lincoln County Fire Academy's next meeting is August 20. The Academy will award certificates on July 21 at the Boothbay Fire Station.

County employees will soon be participating in fire drills and emergency evacuations, due to a new fire alarm system, which is now fully operational in the courthouse. Wiscasset Fire Chief Tim Merry has approved the updated emergency plan. Before the drills can begin the employees will each attend a 30-minute training session, which will be followed by unannounced fire drills over the summer and fall months.

The commissioners will consider a timeline for recruiting the next county administrator. McMahon is planning to complete his work here at the end of the year. McMahon is recommending the county advertise locally, in the Portland and Bangor newspapers, as well as the Maine Municipal Association in Augusta.

McMahon recommends beginning the interview process in early to mid-September, and having a new administrator begin December 1, to overlap with him for at least two weeks.

McMahon is recommending that the county not replace Nancy Giles when she retires in October of 2009, saying that Debbie Tibbetts and the new administrator can absorb her responsibilities.

"I recommend you set that as a goal, as I do not feel the future workload will be heavy enough to justify three full time people in the commissioners' office with all the new efficiencies that are now in place," McMahon said in a letter to the Commissioners.

The commissioners' next meeting will be July 15.