Published: June 01, 2009 11:09 pm      

Commissioners approve juvenile detention services contract

Money transfer approved to cover cost of restroom fixtures

DUNCAN — While Stephens County may not have a juvenile detention center, it does have access to several. All the Stephens County commissioners had to do was accept an agreement with another county and sign on the line.

The Board of Stephens County Commissioners approved a contract with the Canadian County commissioners to use the detention services in the Canadian County Juvenile Detention Center. The contract goes into affect July 1.

Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said, “It’s kind of like the contracts with cities to house prisoners in the county jail.”

Board Chairman Darrell Sparks said a contract is approved every year with Canadian County to allow Stephens County to house its troubled youths in the detention center.

Sparks said the Stephens County commissioners has several contracts with various counties in Oklahoma to ensure Stephens County’s juvenile needs can be met.

“If one isn’t able to take a juvenile, we have four or five other contracts with counties,” Sparks said.

He said each contract draws out the details of the agreement between the counties. These details range from information on transportation to the cost of house each child.

“They charge so much a day to house them,” Sparks said. “They’re usually pretty close.”

In other action:

• The board approved transferring money within the Governmental Building Authority Jail Fund.

The money will cover the costs of purchasing restroom fixtures for the jail.

• Commissioners approved the minutes of the previous meeting, which was held May 26.

• The board also approved purchase orders, blanket purchase orders and any county utility permits.