Franklin County court approves application for federal crisis-intervention grant to buy portable detection unit

Frankfort — Franklin County Fiscal Court voted to authorize the county judge to apply for a federal Burns State Crisis Intervention Program grant to pay for a portable concealed-weapons detection system that county staff say could be used broadly at schools and county events.

Belinda, presenting the request, said the device is "touchless" and portable and estimated the equipment cost at $70,000; she said there is no local match required because the grant is federally administered through the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. "It's just one mobile unit," she said, noting the unit would be operated by authorized personnel and requires only electricity.

Court discussion focused on what the unit can detect and procurement details. Several members asked whether the grant requires purchase of a specific proprietary brand. Belinda said the grant priority areas were broad and that the county would prepare a bid packet if funded: "If we were to get this funding, we would have to put together a bid packet and bid the project," she said. Captain Abrams (sheriff's office) was identified as the departmental expert who first brought the technology to staff's attention.

Why it matters: County officials described the system as a potentially rapid screening tool for school or event safety. At least one member suggested considering budgeting to replace or supplement older permanent detectors used at the jail or courthouse with newer technology that could serve multiple county facilities.

Next steps: The court approved the resolution to apply for the grant; if awarded, staff said they would proceed to a formal procurement process, seek specifications and provide additional technical information to the fiscal court before purchase.