The Seward County Board of Commissioners approved a task force and K-9 facility to be leased by the sheriff’s department during its Oct. 6 meeting.
The Seward York, Fillmore and Lancaster County Sheriff Departments would use the site, located in Milford, as a training facility for their individual K-9 units regularly. It would also be used to store vehicles seized following interdiction arrests.
Seward County Sheriff Mike Vance said the facility would be funded strictly out of the county’s drug fund and no taxpayer money would be used.
He said there will be kennels present for the dogs when not being trained, and a vault to store drugs for such training would be secured and heavily monitored.
Vance and operation manager Chelsea Smith were present for approval of acquiring a lease on the building at 2731 Van Dorn Street.
Another agenda item regarded a position at the facility, once approved. Vance said he would like Smith to be stationed at the new site. The drug fund would pay for a fill-in position at the sheriff’s office in Seward.
Approval was given by the board to move forward with the positions, as long as each is separated into its own descriptions and wages are determined.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• heard from newly hired county surveyor Brian Foral, who introduced himself to the board. Foral also works as Butler County’s surveyor.
• canceled its Nov. 3 meeting because of of Election Day
• accepted county clerk’s fee of $30,904.98 for the month of September.
• heard from public transit director Jeff Baker regarding updated Trip Master equipment. Trip Master Software is dispatch equipment used to help transit drivers schedule and look up travel routes. Baker said the cost was not included in the fiscal year budget and it would be entirely paid for by the CARES Act. No action will be taken until the county attorney’s office can examine the contract.
• heard from Megan Kahler, a representative from SCCDP on behalf of the Seward County Christmas Festival, who sought approval to use the courthouse lawn for the weekend event starting Nov. 28. It was approved.
• heard from building and grounds superintendent Eric Hofer regarding a bill for Internet/telephone services at the Justice Center. Hofer said the bill went paperless without permission and it was never paid/received. The amount is just under $10,000 for the entire year. Discussion involving what phones go where and what part each department needs to pay took place. Hofer said he would separate each out and follow up with the board at a later date.
The next Seward County Board of Commissioners meeting will be Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of the courthouse. The meetings are open to the public.
