The Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) has asked the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset to extend their contract to board 23 inmates from state facilities for an additional six months.

Because of overcrowding in the state prison system last April, the state signed an eight-month contract with the jail to house 23 state inmates at a cost of $85 per day.

Two Bridges, built by Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties, was one of three county jails in the state (the other two are York and Cumberland) that agreed to house state inmates.

The Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority will consider the extension of the contract at their next meeting scheduled for September 5.

The current agreement will expire December 31, 2007. The state would like an extension until June 30, 2008.

At the authority meeting in July, Corrections Administrator Wayne Applebee expressed concern that the revenue projections were below the amount they had hoped to raise at that point in time, and suggested the authority consider allowing more than the 23 inmates from the state. However, according to Applebee, that is no longer a concern because since then the jail has picked up boarders from Kennebec County, bringing up the projected revenue.

Applebee told the Authority that although the state prisoners are more administrative work, he wanted the authority to be aware of the revenue numbers.

There are currently 10 inmates being boarded from Kennebec County; 22 inmates from the Department of Corrections; 14 from Waldo County: and one from Somerset.

Lincoln County currently has 35 inmates at the jail and Sagadahoc currently has 31.

At their July meeting, Applebee told the authority members he had received several complaints about the food service at the jail. As a result, the state inspected the food service for both quality and quantity to the standards, and it was found to be within the standards set out by the state.

Timothy A. Piekart, Correctional Compliance Monitor for the DOC, wrote in a letter to the jail, "I reviewed the menu (which has been approved by a dietician) portion sizes, daily meal log of the Two Bridges facility and cannot find any violation of standards present."