Commission approves emergency purchase to replace juvenile-detention fire-control panel

The St. Francois County Commission approved an emergency replacement for a fire-control panel at the county juvenile detention center after Superintendent Erica Jones told the board the existing unit was “unfixable” and two estimates were obtained.

Jones, who identified herself as the detention superintendent, said the county received an estimate from Blake Roberts and requested an emergency letter to proceed with replacement and faster service. County staff confirmed money exists in the juvenile division’s budget but must be moved from wages to maintenance to pay for the work.

Commissioners discussed timing and whether the work would be charged to the 2025 or 2026 budget. The board recorded a motion to allow the emergency purchase and separately moved to transfer $16,440.77 from wages to maintenance to cover the estimate; the measures were approved by voice vote.

The purchase was described as an estimated amount and county staff noted the figure could change once work is completed. No specific contract award details beyond the vendor preference mentioned by the superintendent were recorded at the meeting. The board also directed staff to track the expense and return if additional action is needed.