ROCKLAND – Knox County Commissioners met in chambers at the Knox County Courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 14, for their regularly scheduled meeting. At the end of the session Commissioner, Dorothy Meriwether announced that she would not be running for reelection. 

“It was not an easy decision and that’s all I really care to say at this time,” she said.

Meriwether said she loves the county and that working with this group of people was, “terrific. There were a lot of reasons that affected her reasons not to run again, she said.

Today, December 16, at the Knox County Court House, the proposed 2022 county budget is up for its final vote before the county commissioners and the budget committee. The 2022 budget comes in at just over $13 million. 

A public hearing on the final budget will be held at 6 p.m. giving the public a chance to make their voices heard concerning the budget before the final vote is taken.   

Meriwether represents District 1, which includes St. George, Rockland, Thomaston, and South Thomaston. Meriwether represented Owls Heads, but the redistricting will take effect on December 28, 2021, and Owls Head will be represented by Commissioner Sharyn Pohlman. Pohlman represented St. George and that will move to Meriwether’s district.  

Petitions can be circulated beginning January 2022 to be filed by March and must contain 50 signatures for a candidate to be placed on the June primary for the election in November.  

On December 8, a fire on North Haven caused extensive damage to the home of Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Lemoi. Lemoi was away at the Maine Law Enforcement Academy and the fire was discovered by his wife and daughter.  

Knox County Sheriff Tim Carroll said Lemoi will be graduating on Friday and both he and Lemoi are overwhelmed by the amount of community support and outpouring.  

“North Haven, the community, everybody,” he said, at the meeting. “Law enforcement agencies from out of state were calling and asking what they could do and what they could send. South Portland had a toy drive and I swung through Southern Maine and picked up a bunch of toys for the child and gift cards. Then I got a call last night from Scarborough asking if they had a Christmas tree because they wanted to donate a Christmas tree. The outpouring has been amazing.” 

Carroll said North Haven especially has been forthcoming with help and he feels a lot of it is the way deputy Lemoi has approached law enforcement on that island. Carroll said he is obviously very involved with the community and to have that much support he is obviously doing it right with community policing.  

Carroll said the academy has allowed him to be at home this week as he tries to clean things up and he will take his final test via zoom.    

“He was hired about a year and a half ago as a full-time deputy,” said Carroll. “Typically, within the first year of employment if they are not certified by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Due to COVID, he received an extension and that’s why he’s in the academy, now.” 

Deputy Lemoi was in his last week at the academy in Vassalboro when the fire occurred. The residence was a house owned by the town of North Haven and provided to the deputy and his family through their contract with the county and the sheriff's office.   

The home was heavily damaged in the fire and the family lost two dogs. The family has moved into a private residence rented by North Haven and they will remain on the island.  

Carroll said the deputy is dealing with the disaster, but there are emotional ups and downs associated with it.  

“There’s the emotion of what happened and thankfully his wife and child are OK,” said Carroll. “They’re the ones who discovered the fire when they came home. And they did lose two dogs out of it, so there is that emotion.” 

The dogs were family pets and not connected with Lemoi’s work as a deputy sheriff.  

Carroll said that at the same time Lemoi is overwhelmed with the amount of support and encouragement.  

“It is something that they just couldn’t imagine,” he said. “Especially from North Haven and it all comes back in my opinion to the job he’s going out there. He’s fair, and the people respect him and when something like this happens there was just this huge outpouring from the year-round residents as well as the summer residents. It was great to see. It’s the kind of community policing we love to see.” 

IN OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS:

Two reappointments and one new appointment were made to the Knox County Regional Communications Center Executive Board for 2022.  

There are six seats on the board representing police, fire, and EMS. Three expire every two years.  

The three seats are currently held by Adam Miceli, Chris Young, and Jesse Thompson. Their two-year term expires at the end of December 2021. Both Miceli, who is the assistant fire chief for Rockland, and Thompson, who is the EMS director for Union, were chosen by the KRCC Users Group to be reappointed to another two-year term. 

Rockland Police Chief Chris Young retired and Sargeant Jimmy Moore of the Rockport Police Department was chosen to fill his spot.  

According to Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley, who serves as the board chair for the KRCC Executive board, the board serves as representatives for the users in fire, police, and EMS agencies in the county. 

“We are the communications link for the users, the folks in the field, and the people providing the service. We don’t get involved in the day-to-day operations. We’re there in an advisory capacity and as a sounding board.”  

Besides Farley and the new appointments, Patrick Polky and Amy Drinkwater serve on the board.  

Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart said that in the past the county has done the Spirit of America awards in November and the recipients have come in for their certificates.  Last year he said it was done virtually and this year he has the certificates, but the recipients are not present.  

There are eight recipients for 2021. The brief write-up was supplied by the town or individual receiving the award. 

Town of Camden: Rotary Club of Camden  

Rotary Club of Camden over the years has raised $25,000 for Camden Snow Bowl,  $10,000 each for Camden Area Food Pantry, Camden Hills Regional High, LifeFlight of Maine, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, and $4,000 for Meals on Wheels. The Club also has donated to many other charitable causes, distributed  $35,000 in college scholarships, organized annual 4th of July concert and done so  much more. 

City of Rockland: Maine Lobster Festival 

The Maine Lobster Festival is an internationally known celebration of seafood held annually in early August. The five-day event is full of culinary demonstrations, gourmet tastings, carnival rides, cooking contests, and live music. The Festival also features a Sea Goddess coronation, an international lobster cate race, road races, and an artisan fair. Especially popular is the Big Parade, whose participants include local groups, businesses, and nationally recognized guests. 

Town of Warren: Warren Fire Department 

The Warren Fire Department recently organized a benefit dinner to benefit Selectmen Peabody and also helped raise funds for the Morton Campaign. The Firefighters are on call 24/7 and spend countless hours in preparation training each year. Though their duties are challenging enough in normal times, these volunteers have faced additional personal risks and difficulties during the pandemic. 

Town of Washington: Deborah Vannah 

This person has been organizing and directing a great group of volunteers to provide an important service in our Town for almost 4 years. She is responsive to people’s needs and will help find other resources when needed. She is good with the Board, pleasant and understanding. She uses money wisely for the purchasing of food, personal care items, and pet food for families in need. She is reachable hrough email or phone to provide help when needed. The Unsung Hero Award of 2021 goes to Deborah Vannah who runs the Washington Food Pantry. Thank you, Deb. 

Town of Owls Head: Robert Hirsch 

Robert Hirsch has served many years as Chair of Owls Head’s Budget Committee, giving very dedicated service to his Town in that capacity. 

Town of St. George: Raymond Emerson 

Ray has been active in many Town organizations for more than 30 years, including municipal committees such as the Volunteer Firefighters & Ambulance Association, the Youth and Scouting Council, and the American Legion. Thank you, Ray, for your service to the Town of St. George. 

Town of Union: Sherwood Hilt 

Sherwood Hilt has served 45 years on the Union Fire Department, 20 plus years on the Union Rescue and he has been involved in Boy Scouts for 45 plus years. 

Town of Cushing: Arthur Kiskila (Deceased) 

Arthur was the Director of Emergency Management from 1972 to 2020, Chief of Cushing Fire Department from 1988 to 2019, Town Constable for 20 years and a Mentor to the Fire Community.