Budget requests from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and County Jail – the Public Library and the Park Board were presented during the planning session held prior to the latest meeting of the Cherokee County Commission.

Sheriff Jeff Shaver touched on several key items in the proposed budget for his office – including the possible purchase of a new piece of equipment that would put drug cases on the fast-track, by instantly analyzing those items and identifying their components, with detailed information being provided in a print-out from the machine.

The ability to instantly determine the make-up of any items in question locally, would cut out the long wait associated with sending off the evidence to a lab and then placing everything regarding that case on hold until results are returned.

That would help clear-out the back-log of drug cases which in turn would help reduce the inmate population at the jail – and the corresponding cost of caring for them.

Other items included the replacement of bullet-proof vests that are out-of-date – and the purchase of new improved tasers – which provide officers with a second firing mechanism in case the first shot fails to connect.

Also during the regular meeting District I Commissioner Randy Jones read a resolution honoring the Savage family for their service to the community.

That motion was approved.

The next regular meeting of the Cherokee County Commission is set for Monday, August 26th at 5:00pm in the County Administration Building.