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The Grant County Law Enforcement Center is about to get some needed plumbing upgrades and new security cameras thanks to the Grant County Commission, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department will receive a 2024 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 from the Special Equipment Fund after approval by the commission December 17.
The commissioners approved a bid from Ted’s Plumbing for up to $10,500 to replace basement water lines at the Grant County Law Enforcement Center. The original bid from Ted’s was $9,500 and did not include the pump, but at commissioner John Martin’s request, Sheriff James Biddle called Ted’s during the meeting to see if they could factor in replacement of the pump, and they said it would not cost more than $1,000 – hence the approval for up to $10,500.
The commissioners also approved a bid from JR Audio of Holcomb for a new surveillance system at the sheriff’s department and courthouse at a cost of $52,808. Biddle said 911 funds will not cover the cost of the cameras and added the camera system JR Audio uses – Axis cameras - is of a higher quality.
“I’ve seen a lot of his work, and he does quality work, does a good job,” Biddle said of JR Audio. “They’re right here close, and as far as getting them over here is not an issue.”
Biddle added that many sheriff’s offices he’s spoken to use JR Audio as do several schools and hospitals. The bid includes putting a camera on each floor of the courthouse and the Law Enforcement Center. The current cameras have been in use for 20 years.
The bid also includes screens to be placed in dispatch so officers can monitor each camera.
JR Audio said the system can be online by the end of February.
Martin asked if old 911 funds could be used for the security system, and Biddle said possibly but he wanted to se those funds for radios.
“I was just thinking if we could use some of that money on this it would give us time to find some additional funds for the radios,” Martin said.
Biddle said he needs to get the new system as he is down eight cameras and the recording system in the booking room does not work. He said he would look into whether he could use 911 funds for the system.
“I think it’s important that he gets it with that many cameras down without a recording system in place,” Martin said.
Martin moved to accept the JR Audio bid for $52,808 for the camera system contingent upon the sheriff finding out whether he can use the old 911 fund up to $26,000. The motion was seconded by Darrin Figgins.
The commission approved the purchase of a 2024 Ram 1500 4x4 from Legacy Auto in Garden City, with money out of the sheriff’s department budget. JR Audio will outfit the vehicle for police use.
The Commission heard from Corey Burton and Ruby Romero from USD 214 for use of opioid settlement money.
Romero wants to use the money to create CPR and vaping cessation programs.
“A lot of our staff is not trained (in CPR), if a lot of them are trained it’s because they are coaches,” Romero said. “If we had someone in the school setting, so obviously I would have to be certified and I could teach staff, and as well teach students because I think it’s important for students to know.”
Romero said many vapes contain THC, which is a gateway to harder drugs.
“I feel like if we can stop kids now from doing it, hopefully that will prevent future use of any other substances that they would experiment with,” Romero said.
The said the American Lung Association has a vaping cessation program for schools that she would utilize. Superintendent Corey Burton said the district was flagged in the past for suspending identified special education students for vaping, so the district wants to find ways to educate students. Burton said he pulled students out of class last week with vapes containing THC.
“Utilizing sone of those funds to try to help curb that would help us prevent drug use in the long term,” Burton added.
County Clerk Sheila Brown said that if there was an emphasis on preventing opioid use in the district’s vape training, it would meet the guidelines for opioid prevention.
Commissioner Mark McGaughey said he would like to see a budget and said it has to fall within the guidelines in case the county is audited, it will have to justify how the money was spent.
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