Sheriff seeks contract with Canteen for jail meals; finance granted waiver for time-sensitive procurement

Berrien County officials discussed a proposed shift to a private contractor for jail food services during the April 9 meeting, and the finance committee granted a time-sensitive waiver to allow expedited procurement.

Sheriff's business was reported to the board by Dave O'Rath, who said the sheriff and undersheriff met with commissioners and noted several long-term employees are retiring, including Deputy Jason Long and Captain Randy Miller. O'Rath said the sheriff’s office recommends contracting food services to a vendor, and that Canteen was the company suggested; the sheriff told the finance committee it had obtained a waiver to accelerate the procurement because of timing needs.

At finance, the sheriff obtained a waiver to deviate from the normal procurement timeline so the county could proceed with the Canteen contract, the committee chair reported. That waiver was described as time sensitive and later will be followed by a formal resolution; meeting remarks referred to a resolution number ending in “190” associated with the sheriff’s department. The board did not vote on the contract at the meeting; committee members said they were “perfectly fine” with the waiver and that a formal resolution would be presented at a later meeting.

Commissioners and staff also recognized longtime jail staff for their service and noted the county’s kitchen is in good condition and will be used by the proposed vendor. The meeting record does not include a final contract, dollar amounts, or vendor contract language. Those details will appear when the formal resolution and contract are placed on a future agenda and published with committee or board materials.