Sheriff Rogers briefed the Benton County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 with a range of public-safety updates: a successful search-and-rescue, construction and occupancy conditions for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), progress on a county radio-system upgrade and details on a jail-based medication-assisted treatment program.

On search-and-rescue Rogers said volunteers from Benton and Lincoln County coordinated and located a 76-year-old mushroom picker safe and unharmed near the county line after the person became lost in thick underbrush.

On emergency management the sheriff said the new EOC is expected to open in about 12 months but that occupancy depends on completing site infrastructure: "the parking lot has to be complete. The fiber optic has to be ran to the property, sewer, water, electrical and everything else," he said. He added the EOC could, in theory, be occupied before the courthouse is ready if infrastructure is in place.

Rogers described a radio-system upgrade that will add a new antenna and microwave backhaul and requires an MPLS software component to support remote updates and prioritize law-enforcement traffic. He told commissioners the grant for that work was "$963,000" and that the total project cost will be "a little over $1,000,000," with other funding identified to cover the remainder. Rogers also said a partner application being handled by Linn County would add microwave backhaul through Prairie Peak to create a redundant loop for resilience.

The sheriff described ongoing efforts to improve interoperability with local fire districts by acquiring dual-band radios; he estimated a portable dual-band radio at about $7,000 and a vehicle unit at about $7,500 and said the county will continue to pursue funds for additional units.

On jail services, Rogers reported the facility has enrolled AICs in a MOUD program using Sublocade injections and said five individuals began the protocol; he described the shots as costing about $1,500 each and said the county purchased doses and that the grant funding has been renewed to continue the program. He noted partnerships with the health department and local providers such as Chance and Family Tree to coordinate treatment and continuity after release.

On capacity the sheriff confirmed one recent day required turning away custody due to full intake cells and described contract arrangements with partner counties that affect bed guarantees and per-day payments.

Rogers said the county will continue hardware installation and coordination with regional partners; he asked commissioners to consider pursuing additional federal funds later this year to expand the project further.