Dec. 16 -- Pittsburg County Commissioners approved Monday the purchase of two metal detectors and two x-ray machines for use at the Pittsburg County Courthouse.
Among the agenda items on Board of County Commissioners Meeting was to discuss, consider, and take possible action to approve "the purchase of a Compact Package X-Ray Machine and a walk-through metal detector from Linev Systems LLC, Inc through Omnia Partners Contract, to be purchased with American Rescue Plan Act Funds."
Pittsburg County Clerk Hope Trammell and Chief Deputy Sandra Crenshaw have previously discussed that multiple machines could be purchased for possible reasons of higher foot traffic in and out of the courthouse.
Crenshaw said, "It might even be worth the cost to maybe purchase two of each, so that if we have a high profile case we can set one up outside the courtroom or out here in the front lobby."
Commission Chairman/District 3 Commissioner Ross Selman even suggested with Trammell and Crenshaw that the machines could be used at various places including the Southeast Expo Center and the Election Board Office if necessary.
Selman asked Pittsburg County Acting Sheriff Frankie McClendon if there's any need at his Office. McClendon said, " We've got that X-ray machine." And, Pittsburg County Jail Administrator Jeff Daniels explains that the PCSO has a full body scanner that shows everything.
"That X-ray scanner is probably going to be just as important, I think, as a metal detector," McClendon said.
Selman and Crenshaw moved forward to discuss warranty and decided to purchase a $3,600 two-year warranty agreement. The board then stated that Daniels is well-qualified to train anyone to use the machines.
The base price for the X-ray machine is around $23,000 and the metal detector is around $10,000.
The board is looking at the total cost necessary that includes software and warranty options. Crenshaw said each X-ray Machine with software and accessories will cost $31,651.45 each. Two will cost $63,302.90. The walk-through metal detectors will cost $10,003.96 each. Two will cost $20,007.92.
She said the installation and training will cost $1,156.61. And with two warranty agreements at $7,200. Total cost for the county is $91,667.43.
McClendon said that Pittsburg County Courthouse is one of the very few in Oklahoma without any metal detector or X-ray machine at the points of entry. Earlier this year, at a commissioners meeting the board and McClendon decided this needed to change.