HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After hearing from Sheriff Randy Henderson over how many officers needed to be hired to man the new secure entrance, the commission decided to renegotiate the agreement with a Wichita company with only two officers manning the doors.

Sheriff Henderson argued for the third person who would act as a rover and says that person would be there to assist the other two, but would also be there if alarms go off for other doors.

The sheriff then added that they could assist in the courts if someone is ordered into custody. He says, as it is now, sometimes there isn’t anyone in the sheriff’s office other than secretaries to respond.

Commission Chair Dan Deming stated that if no one is available in the sheriff’s office, Hutchinson police could respond to take someone into custody. Sheriff Henderson fired back that “they don’t work for me.” Deming then told the sheriff that in an emergency they would respond. But, the sheriff wasn’t necessarily speaking for emergency situations. Sometimes suspects out on bond are sentenced and need to be taken into custody.

All three agreed that the sheriff is the expert on security issues, but in the end, decided to renegotiate the contract with VendTech Enterprises for two officers, with the understanding that if it was determined later that a third is needed, they would agree to revisit the issue.

The sheriff did get permission to apply for a grant to hire an additional jail officer who would be in charge of determining which jail pod an inmate should be placed in based on what charges he or she faces. Henderson says putting a violent offender with a sex offender probably would not be a good idea.

Hiring that officer would be contingent on receiving the grant.

They are getting ready to begin construction of the new main entrance with county staff cutting down some of the trees to the west of the steps.