Warren Fiscal Court approves emergency management equipment, discusses jail medical costs

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Warren County Fiscal Court discussed emergency management upgrades and rising inmate medical costs during its meeting Thursday.

County leaders approved the purchase of a new surveillance trailer for the Warren County Office of Emergency Management after a previously awarded homeland security grant provided funding for the equipment.

The trailer, equipped with an extended camera system, will be used across Warren County and Bowling Green during large events and other situations where additional monitoring is needed.

Warren County Emergency Management director Ronnie Pearson said the equipment will ultimately be reimbursed through the grant.

“It’s been a long process, but we did finally get our approval,” Pearson said. “Today’s approval was just to purchase that, and the county will be reimbursed. I think it’s about $40,000 and some change back to this court. So this is taxpayers’ dollars bringing this equipment back to our community to utilize to help in the safety and security of our community.”

Fiscal court members accepted a bid of $41,800 from SkyCop for the surveillance trailer. County officials said three bids were received after the project was publicly advertised, with SkyCop providing the best evaluated bid.

The equipment will support public safety operations during festivals, community gatherings, and other events where large crowds are expected.

In addition to emergency management updates, county officials addressed the growing cost of medical care at the Warren County Regional Jail.

Warren County jailer Stephen Harmon spoke about a contract extension for inmate medical services, which now exceeds $2 million.

Fiscal court authorized Harmon to sign a one-year contract extension with Comprehensive Correctional Care totaling $2,167,730.75.

Harmon said the increase is largely tied to expanded treatment requirements, including medication and counseling services for inmates with opioid use disorder.

“The overall contract is an increase this year. It’s almost a half-million-dollar increase in medical expense,” Harmon said. “A lot of that increase is driven by the need to provide opioid use disorder medications, the counseling that goes with that, and all of the support services we’re required to provide.”

County officials say the services are necessary to meet health care requirements for inmates while addressing ongoing substance use issues within the jail population.