Additional coverage area improves transparency
The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office had several items on the agenda when the board of county commissioners met Monday in regular session.
The county approved the continuation of interlocal agreements with the cities of Geary and Watonga for the housing of prisoners and provide mutual aid, as well as agreements with Payne and Dewey counties for prisoner housing.
The office also asked to surplus a workstation, two treadmills and a Nordic-Track exercise machine, and for permission to purchase long awaited cameras and other equipment for the jail. That equipment comes from Super Circuits at a cost of $7,302.
The SO also requested the purchase of seven car cameras and five additional body cameras for patrol deputies. This request is adding cameras and extending the contract, as well as improving the coverage area. “This is better coverage,” said Sheriff Travis Daugherty. “I don’t want our integrity questioned,” he said. The improvement will be especially beneficial for deputies who live at the far reaches of the county and begin their shifts on the way into Watonga. If they should answer a call or make a stop, it will all be recorded with extended coverage. The annual cost is $33,713, including the new cameras.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to requests from four Blaine County EMS boards and eight fire departments to renew their subscriptions to edispatch at a cost of $4,140 and for Hitchcock Fire Department to purchase one emergency responder volunteer pack as add-ons. That cost is estimated at $2190.
The Watonga Fire Department requested and was approved for an agreement with the Weatherford Fire Department to purchase a 2016 Freightliner with a commercial cab and stainless steel rescue body. It holds a 1250 gallon-perminute pump and other equipment. The cost is some $300,000. The fire departments frequently access the dedicated sales tax earmarked for them and their support to purchase both smaller needed equipment like bunker gear and larger needs, such as a new-to-them fire engine.
There was no indication when the fire engine will be delivered from Weatherford to Watonga.