Lyon County commissioners tabled a request for food ports in the jail holding cell doors until after the first of the year during today's study session.
Gary Eichorn, Lyon County sheriff, requested permission to have eight food ports for doors installed by Sweeper Metal Fabrications for $9,000. Eichorn said the doors were not equipped with the ports during the remodel.
“The issue is that when you have people on suicidal watch, that are disruptive or drunk, you have to open the door to give them something or to take something,” Eichorn said. “It just gives them an opportunity to throw things at us or attack us.”
County Controller Dan Slater said he didn’t have budgetary authority over the fund that the money was to come out of until after Jan. 1, when the 2007 budget kicks in. The item was tabled until the Jan. 4 action meeting.
Commissioners also talked about the purchase of two fiber optic scopes using up to $1,000 from the diversion fund. The scopes will be for the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. They will be used to look down inside compartments such as dashboards to see if there are hidden compartments.
Other items discussed during today's commission meeting:
• Commissioners discussed the purchase of a new computer in the clerk’s department to replace a failed unit.
• Commissioners discussed the purchase of nine pick-up trucks and one tandem axle dump truck and place seven older pick-up trucks on auction.