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Commission approves sheriff's homeland-security grant application, jail scanner payment and out-of-state travel
Summary
The Covington County Commission approved a homeland-security grant application for school UTVs, authorized additional jail scanner funds and cleared out-of-state travel for sheriff's investigators and to attend a fallen-officer memorial.
Covington County commissioners voted to allow the sheriff's office to apply for a homeland-security grant that would fund golf carts/UTVs for school resource officers and to approve additional miscellaneous funding for jail scanners, and they approved out-of-state travel requests for sheriff's personnel.
The homeland-security grant is a percentage grant with no local match; commissioners voted to permit the sheriff's department to apply. Commissioner Robbie made the motion and Commissioner Tommy seconded; the motion carried with a voice vote.
Sheriff Tom (identified in the meeting) told commissioners the department had a "very busy, busy, busy March" including officer-involved shootings and homicides. Commissioners asked whether officers are provided bulletproof vests; in response, county staff confirmed vests are furnished to courthouse personnel and other officers.
Commissioners also approved spending an additional $14,535.86 from the jail's budget to cover a yearly maintenance fee for two scanners used at jail entry points. County staff said the jail's miscellaneous account had $20,000 budgeted; the $14,535.86 represents the difference to be charged to that line item. Commissioner Tommy moved the funding approval and Commissioner Robbie seconded; the motion passed.
On travel, the sheriff requested out-of-state travel for two investigators to attend a class in Meridian, Mississippi, and for personnel to travel to a memorial for a fallen officer in Walton County. Commissioners authorized the travel and vehicle use; the motion to approve out-of-state travel was moved by Robbie. A voice vote approved the request.
Why it matters: the decisions supply equipment and training to sheriff's deputies and support school resource officers' mobility; they also finalize payment for equipment that county staff said is used daily to screen inmates and visitors.
Ending: The commission recorded approvals by voice vote; no recorded roll-call tallies were given in the meeting minutes.
