BELFAST – Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story and Islesboro officials have reached an agreement on law enforcement for the island.
Story told county commissioners Tuesday that the island will receive 720 hours of coverage from May through September.
Of the 18 weeks of coverage, Story said, 400 hours will be absorbed through his budget and the island will pay for 320 hours.
He said the island also would provide its own cruiser equipped with a video camera and fuel.
Islesboro officials approached the commissioners last month about expanded law enforcement for the island.
Islesboro is the second-largest taxpayer in Waldo County, contributing more than $350,000 annually.
Island residents have complained for years that they deserved more in county services, considering the amount of taxes they pay.
“People don’t see the services you guys provide. Police coverage on the island is a very visible thing. They zero in on that. They can see it,” Selectman James Mitchell told the commissioners last month. “We really need to see that so people know there is some law on the island, that it’s not free and open.”
The commissioners instructed Story to work out a cost-sharing arrangement with the island on part-time coverage. Story estimated that it would cost $80,000 a year to put a full-time deputy on the island.
Story said he already had instituted the expanded services to the island.
He said a specific deputy had been assigned to the island and was receiving training in the operation of the video system in the island’s police cruiser.
Story said he and island officials had reached an oral agreement on the coverage and would be signing a formal contract at a later date.
“They were very reasonable,” Story said. “We were able to sit down and come to an agreement.”
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