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Benton County approves courthouse and jail building improvements; full camera replacement withdrawn or deferred
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Summary
Commissioners approved $22,926.04 for courthouse and annex improvements and separate appropriations for jail upgrades (water heater, cabling); a full replacement of the jail’s proprietary camera/secure-door system was withdrawn and the cabling appropriation was tabled to July.
Benton County commissioners on May 18, 2020 approved a package of building improvements and several jail-related appropriations while declining or deferring broader replacement of the jail’s camera and secure-door control system.
After discussion of vendor responses and cost options, Sheriff Kenny Christopher withdrew Resolution 20200518-15, which had proposed either a $13,080.26 maintenance agreement or a full $334,000 replacement of the jail’s proprietary camera/secure-door system. Minutes record that three vendors examined the system — Hiscall, LanLink Communications and Townsend Systems — and two declined to proceed because of the job’s complexity.
Commissioners approved smaller, targeted appropriations for jail needs: Resolution 20200518-17 awarded $15,797 to Cully Mechanical Services, LLC for a replacement 100-gallon water heater in the 2001 portion of the jail and was approved on a roll-call vote; Resolution 20200518-18 appropriated $12,000 from the Unassigned Fund Balance to cover COVID-19–related increases for custodial supplies ($3,500) and water and sewer ($8,500). A proposed $6,574.07 appropriation for additional jail cabling (Resolution 20200518-16) was tabled to the July meeting.
Separately, the commission reconsidered and approved Resolution 20200518-19 to appropriate $22,926.04 from the Jail/Workhouse/Courthouse Litigation Tax Reserve Account to make courthouse and annex building improvements and to pay an outstanding engineering invoice to Hethcoat Davis. The motion to approve 20200518-19 carried on a roll-call vote recorded as 17 Ayes and 1 Pass after initially being tabled earlier in the meeting.
Sheriff Christopher sponsored or was listed as sponsor on several of the jail-related resolutions; Mayor Brett Lashlee sponsored the courthouse/annex appropriation. Meeting minutes record line-item decreases and increases for each appropriation and name at least one awarded vendor (Cully Mechanical Services, LLC) for the water-heater contract.
Because the full camera/door replacement proposal was withdrawn and the larger replacement price was not advanced to a vote, the commission did not authorize the larger capital outlay at this meeting. Items that were approved will move to implementation by the county departments responsible for buildings and the sheriff’s office.