Brown County Sheriff’s Office will be investing in new hand held radios for jailers due to currently old and non-functional “walkie-talkies” hampering communication throughout the jail facility, according to Chief Deputy Bobby Duvall at the Brown County Commissioners’ Court Tuesday.
The cost of the radios is approximately $3000 for 8 units. Chief Duvall told commissioners that the BCSO budget has the funds in the inmate telephone budget, which currently has a balance of $42,000 and is categorized as discretionary spending. Because these funds are available, he stated that he was not asking the county to authorize any additional funds to pay for the radios. Brown County Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of the radios.
In addition to the radios, BCSO also received approval for employee changes which include replacing jailer Mitchell Jacobson with new hire James Taylor at starting salary. Jacobson left BCSO to attend police academy in Abilene, according to Duvall.
The jail count was reported at 145 inmates as of Tuesday morning by Chief Duvall.
In other non-related matters on Tuesday’s commissioners’ court agenda:
*No action was taken to implement a burn ban. According to Precinct 2 Commissioner Joel Kelton, he felt his precinct was still in “good shape” and Commissioners Bob Clark of Precinct 1 and Richard Gist of Precinct 2 agreed. Commissioner Traweek was not at the meeting due to illness.
*Commissioner Kelton received approval for purchase of a pre-owned motor grader, a 12G 1995 model from TXIW Company in Early. The equipment will be purchased with a trade in of 1972, 1965 and 1962 units, leaving a balance of $49,975.
*Commissioners approved a bid from Diamond P Aggregates near Rising Star for purchase of paving materials including crushed rock and limestone products for Precinct 2 at $7.75/ton. According to Commissioner Kelton, the additional cost of transporting materials from Vulcan Materials in Brownwood would not be beneficial when considering the cost of freight. The bid from Vulcan Materials was approved countywide for the other precincts at a cost of $6.00/ton. Neither of these bids included freight. Commissioner Kelton explained that typically the county hauls its own materials from these suppliers to save money.
*A bond for Commissioner Bob Clark, Precinct 1, was approved by the court and signed by Judge West in open court.
*Suzy Young received approval for changing seasonal part time employee Shirley Keas to full time with benefits. The change to a salaried position will entitle Keas to sick and vacation time, ending overtime payment she would have received as a part time employee. Keas’ full time salary will change approximately $590 plus benefits from her previous part time salary.
*Bob Clark reported that a person who applied for a water easement on County Road 202 decided to withdraw their application after seeing the county’s requirements.
*In reports, Chief Deputy Duvall reported that the water heating system for the Brown County Jail is nearly halfway installed. The last half of the project is scheduled to be finished up this week according to Duvall who also stated that a surprise inspection was underway at the jail Tuesday morning.
