Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/194514
Sarasota News Leader October 18, 2013 FIRST OF ITS KIND In 2005 in Wiscasset, ME, Applebee acted as a negotiator between two county commissions during discussions on jail financing and governance. During the transition to the new Two Bridges Regional Jail, he was directly involved in the hiring and training of 68 employees and the development of more than 350 policies, procedures and moving plans. Page 38 "That was no easy task," he told the News Leader. The new center is run by the Two Bridges Jail Authority, a body similar to the SarasotaBradenton International Airport Authority, Applebee explained. Applebee also rallied for a legislative change that allowed the nascent regional authority to operate the jail. Previously, only sheriff's As part of that process, Applebee imple- offices had run correctional facilities in Maine. mented the closing of the two old jails and the When the regional jail opened, it had stateopening of the new state-of-the-art facility. of-the-art equipment, Applebee said. For example, correctional officers had to learn In addition to presenting the plans to groups to use handheld computers instead of and convincing voters to approve separate manual logs. referenda in the two counties to fund the project, Applebee was charged with finalizing If Sarasota city and county officials move a list of recommended sites for the facility. forward on the establishment of a homeless The Pinellas Safe Harbor homeless facility in Clearwater has been considered a model for a potential Sarasota center. Image courtesy Pinellas Safe Harbor