Sheriff updates commissioners on jail, other issues

McCOOK, Neb. – At Monday’s Red Willow County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Kevin Darling presented several updates and concerns regarding ongoing jail maintenance and staffing issues.

Sheriff Darling reported progress in staffing, noting that another deputy candidate is in the pipeline, potentially increasing the team’s capacity. However, no specific details on the timeline or certainty of this addition were provided.

But the primary focus of the meeting was on the extensive maintenance required for the county jail. Sheriff Darling outlined a six-week renovation project aimed at addressing significant surface issues within the jail cells. The discussion revolved around two potential methods for sandblasting and repainting the surfaces:

One, recommended by the original architect, Prochaska & Associates, involves a sponge-jet method to clean the old surface and replace with an epoxy, the other utilizes a local contractor using a glass-bead method to clean the surface followed by a local contractor applying the new surface.

Jail downtime will be an issue, allowing the epoxy paint to dry and completely cure meaning the jail could not be occupied for six weeks.

Costs for both options will be collected for a final decision to be made.

Additional Issues

The meeting also covered other administrative matters:

• Vehicle Purchase: A recent purchase of a $30,000 police vehicle was scrutinized for compliance with the County Purchasing Act. It was noted that future purchases must follow the formal bidding process for expenditures exceeding $10,000.

• Surplus Auction: Plans were announced for a county auction on June 15, where 12 vehicles and other equipment will be sold. A .40-cal. Glock pistol and ammunition have been put on consignment with a gun dealer, Darling said.

• Facility Updates: The jail’s central control room received new chairs, and improvements were made to the communication infrastructure with a new repeater installed on the courthouse.

The Commissioners scheduled a follow-up meeting to review progress on these issues and finalize decisions on the jail renovation plan. The next session, set for June 24, will include further discussions based on the gathered bids and logistics.