ROCKLAND – A joint work session of the Knox County Commissioners and the Knox Regional Communications Commission Executive Board was held at the Knox County Public Safety Building on Wednesday, December 18 for the purpose of establishing a timeline for the appointment of a new communications director.

Linwood Lothrop had announced his retirement last summer and Robert Coombs has acted as an interim communications director since Lothrop left his position.

In a Dec. 10 email, commission chairman Chris Farley summarized the KRCC executive board’s meeting over the last few months.

The email was addressed to members of the executive board and to Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart.

The email stated that in keeping with the county’s hiring process they recommended a timeline to county commissioners in order to find the best candidate.

The position would be advertised by December 30, and a recommendation made to commissioners by February 28, 2020.

Commissioners debated several scenarios for the leadership role, but in the end, took the KRCC Executive Board’s request of the timeline.

In other business, following a short executive session, commissioners confirmed the appointment of Jeremy Shaw to the position of Knox County Regional Airport Manager.

Shaw will begin the job on January 12, 2020, when current manager Jeffery Northgraves retires form that position.

Shaw is the current maintenance supervisor at the airport. He has been employed there for three years, first as a maintenance worker and then assuming the duties of the supervisor.

Shaw is originally from Belfast and began at the airport in 2006 with the transportation security administration.

“I did that for four years,” he said. “I wanted a little more excitement so I joined the U.S. Border Patrol. Then I began having children and it was harder to be away.”

Shaw’s wife is a pilot and flies for Endeavor Air, a Delta connection. Endeavor flies out of Portland and Bangor. They have two children. They both fly and have Cherokee 160 they keep at the airport. 

“Her earning potential was a lot higher than mine,” he said. “There was an opening at the airport in the maintenance department and I applied and was hired.”

Shaw said his family has a history with the airport.

“Between my wife and me we have been associated with almost every aspect of the airport,” he said. “I have a history that would make me valuable to the airport in this regard.”

Shaw said he lives across the street and loves the noise of the airport.