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Security upgrade to cost $2M

Rewiring of jail is part of plan

042017...R SECURITY 1...Warren...04-20-17...Trumbull Co. Sheriff Deputies escort an inmate back to jail from the TC Courthouse...by R. Michael Sempl;e

WARREN — The Trumbull County Jail will undergo a $2 million upgrade to its inmate security system that has become obsolete since the detention facility was built 23 years ago.

Trumbull County commissioners Wednesday agreed to pay $222,690 to Professional Systems Engineer of Lansdale, Pa., to consult county officials on the improvements to the seven-story jail in downtown Warren and devise a plan to replace the outdated electronic system that provides audio, video and locking mechanisms inside.

The system now, known as the Commander, was installed in 1994. It will cost $2 million to replace.

“We will be doing a total rewiring of the whole place according to the specifications provided by the consultant,” said Trumbull County Sheriff Paul Monroe. “They don’t make parts for the system we have anymore. So there is potential that if the Commander fails, we have to go back to lock and key.”

The consultant’s fee is being paid for with a loan processed last year, said Trumbull County Auditor Adrian Biviano.

“This project has been talked about for a while, while (former) Sheriff Tom Altiere was in charge, so we anticipated the consultant’s cost with a $350,000 loan,” Biviano said.

Commissioners in August authorized Altiere to begin negotiations with a consultant for the rewiring, which will replace the existing coaxial cable with thinner computer-type wiring.

The loan also will pay for half of the cost of a full-body X-ray machine that Monroe wants for the jail to curb the amount of contraband, including drugs, being brought in by prisoners. The machines cost between $115,000 and $250,000, the sheriff said.

Footing the other half of the bill is Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, said Biviano, who added that another loan will be used to pay to replace the security system.

The jail will be the focal point in the sheriff’s efforts to curb the opioid emergency that commissioners declared for Trumbull County on April 12. Monroe said his enforcement efforts will include making “as many arrests as possible” to hamper small-time drug dealers. He is also asking residents to help out by pointing out suspicious activity at neighboring homes.

However, the anticipated spike in the jail population will coincide with the security system update, in which prisoners will need to be separated from electricians as they rewire the place.

Monroe said some prisoners may have to be moved out. The sheriff said he has talked to jail officials in Mahoning County about possibly taking them in.

“That is down the road. We will have to see the consultant’s timetable first before we make any decisions,” Monroe said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Frank Fuda said he is concerned about costs for potential infrastructure repairs.

“We have the maintenance department in there almost every day doing something,” Fuda said. “There are leaking pipes that we have to lay tarp to protect the exposed wires.”

The citizens budget commission, which is helping commissioners prepare a county financial outlook, is aware of the problems with the jail, Fuda said. Budget commission members Jeff Goodman, a Warren attorney, and Barry Profato of Niles have toured the facility, he said.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com

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