Sheriff’s office wins Community First grant; county approves equipment purchases including drug-incinerator and spectrometer
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Summary
Chief Eric Burnett asked the commission to approve several equipment purchases for the sheriff’s office; the commission approved lowest responsive bids for duty weapons, a drug incinerator, drug test toolkits and a drug spectrometer, with much of the cost covered by a Community First Foundation grant.
Chief Eric Burnett and sheriff’s staff brought multiple procurement items to the commission on May 1, several funded through a Community First Foundation grant and the sheriff’s operating budget.
The commission approved the lowest responsive bid for duty weapons from Atlantic Tactical for $13,025.20 to be paid from the sheriff’s operating budget. For a drug incinerator the lowest responsive bid came from Mountain State Equipment at $45,900; staff said the Community First grant awarded $49,900 for the incinerator and related items. The commission approved that award and asked staff to confirm pad and site logistics; staff said the county will coordinate a concrete pad near the 9‑1‑1 facility and will check with the foundation about re‑scoping if necessary.
A drug‑testing toolkit purchase (price $16,007.96) also came in under the grant allocation and was approved. For on‑scene drug identification, the commission approved a spectrometer bid (lowest responsive vendor recorded as Regaku in the packet) at $54,003.20 for two units; staff said the Community First grant provided $60,006.76 for that item.
Staff also reported that a secure drug take‑back box price came in higher than forecast ($2,903 vs. the $1,500 budgeted). Commissioners gave staff consensus to reallocate available grant savings to cover the shortfall and agreed to ask the foundation to permit minor re‑scoping so all approved equipment can be procured and sited. Staff noted the grant‑funded equipment will be located at secure county facilities and that the incinerator will be used to dispose of collected controlled substances.
Ending: The commission approved the bid awards and gave staff direction to coordinate site preparation, confirm grant‑allowable scopes with the Community First Foundation and return if any change requires separate county funding or additional approvals.