The Marshall County Jail’s communication equipment will be getting a bit of an upgrade. Sheriff Matt Hassel told the County Commissioners Monday the update to the jail’s intercom system actually solves a problem created by a previous upgrade. “A couple years ago, when they upgraded the software that controls all the locks and the intercoms at the jail, they lost their ability to record the intercom conversations,” he said. “And probably 95 percent of staff-inmate conversations are over the intercom, and we would like to have that ability back.”
To do that, the Sheriff’s Department will pay Stanley Security just under $12,000 to purchase an upgraded system and software. That payment was approved this week by the County Commissioners, after funds were previously made available by the County Council.
The commissioners also approved the Sheriff’s Department’s purchase of a police utility interceptor from Oliver Ford for just over $26,600. Part of that cost will be covered by the insurance money from a Dodge Ram truck that had been totaled. Hassel was also given permission to start seeking bids for four new police vehicles to be purchased next year.
Also during Monday’s meeting, Hassel’s 2017 salary contract was approved by the commissioners. It calls for the sheriff to receive $85,506 next year. The contract now goes to the Marshall County Council for approval.
