FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners recognized Lorna Nichols for her work on the county’s new website and dispatcher William “Bill” Hoyt for his efforts to help save a Canadian man who had a severe electrical shock.
Nichols had been helping to improve the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office website for her husband, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr., and those efforts expanded to helping the county set up a website.
Nichols is the cook supervisor at the Franklin County Detention Center.
Her efforts went above and beyond her required duties, Clerk Julie Magoon said.
The new website is www.franklincounty.maine.gov.
Communications Center Director Stan Wheeler told commissioners that April 10 through April 16 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. He invited commissioners to visit the center and talk to dispatchers.
Wheeler said he appreciated the dispatchers who work for Franklin County.
Dispatchers handle about 9,500 911 calls per year. Not all of them were life-threatening incidents, he said, but a lot them were.
He commended Hoyt for his handling of the 911 call in December 2015, when a Canadian man was severely shocked when his truck boom hit power lines while delivering grain to the Shady Lane Farm in New Vineyard.
Hoyt quickly determined that the truck driver was not conscious and not breathing, Wheeler said. He kept CPR providers on task to give lifesaving care and to make sure it was done at the right pace. He also helped make sure the scene was safe prior to the arrival of NorthStar EMS ambulance personnel, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, he said.
Wheeler presented Hoyt with a certificate for the Franklin County Critical Call of the Year Award and a gift card from L.L.Bean.
Wheeler has also nominated Hoyt for the Critical Call of the Year Award from the National Emergency Number Association. The winner will be announced in May.
In other business, commissioners voted to enter into a four-year agreement with R.H.R. Smith & Co. CPAs in Buxton for $38,000. The audits will be done for the county, including the jail and the unorganized territory. The agreement covers the audits for the years ending June 30 in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
County Treasurer Pam Prodan recommended the firm for its qualifications — which she considered superior — and knowledge and experience, she said. The cost was in line with other bids, she said.
Other companies bidding were:
• Brantner, Thibodeau & Associates, Bangor, $40,300;
• Felch & Co., Caribou, $55,800; and
• Ron L. Beaulieu and Co., Portland, $35,200.
In another matter, commissioners approved of the Franklin County Firefighters Association using the Church Street parking lot for vehicles and equipment on Saturday, April 9. There will be Firefighter I and II training at the house the town of Farmington bought to turn into a parking lot.
Tim Hardy, director of the county Emergency Management Agency, said they intend to block off the parking lot Friday evening.
The Farmington Downtown Association also received approval to use the parking lot on July 22 and July 23 for the Farmington Summer Fest.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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