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Sheriff: Franklin County provided support after Osage County shootings; staffing and fleet updates reported
Summary
Franklin County's sheriff said deputies provided post-incident support for a shooting in neighboring Osage County, outlined staffing vacancies and a pending transfer, and reported he attended a paid fellowship at the Claremont Institute; road operations staff said the county will seek 50 replacement tires for newly purchased dump trucks.
An official identifying themself as the Franklin County sheriff told commissioners on Nov. 19 that the county was not part of the original shooting incident in neighboring Osage County but provided significant support afterward, including on-scene assistance and staffing at the hospital.
"We were not part of the original incident, but we did have a pretty heavy response as far as for support after the fact," the sheriff said, noting personnel were on scene and at the hospital and that the sheriff's office provided peer support to those affected. The sheriff added the response team was in a supporting role and emphasized the county was not involved in the initial incident.
The sheriff also reported staffing updates: the county jail was at capacity at the time of the meeting, and the department planned to transfer an inmate from the jail to patrol, which would free a position to be filled; hiring processes are underway to address patrol vacancies.
The sheriff told the commission he recently attended a fellowship at the Claremont Institute in California that focused on statesmanship and political philosophy. He said the institute covered his travel and expenses and that he was chosen as one of 11 sheriffs nationally to participate.
In operations news, a county employee identified as Jeff thanked the commission for five new dump trucks acquired this year but said the trucks arrived with street-tread factory tires that are not holding up on gravel roads. Jeff said staff will place a consent item next week to purchase 50 replacement tires for the new trucks and described it as likely a one-time but costly purchase.
A commissioner also reported on the Franklin County Community Foundation’s Chamber Coffee, saying the foundation is offering to match or double donations made in November to several local nonprofits including Hope House, the Franklin County Historical Society, United Way, Life Care Center, Ottawa Library and the Franklin County Emergency Temporary Shelter Association.
The meeting record contains expressions of appreciation for the sheriff's office response and concern that the nearby Osage County incident felt "way too close to home." The commission received the reports and moved on to other agenda items.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this article appear on the meeting record and include the unidentified sheriff who spoke to the commission, Jeff (operations staff), and a commissioner who reported on the Community Foundation event.
