ASHLAND — The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office has asked commissioners for money to hire additional staff, pay for 3% contractual wage increases, buy three vehicles and upgrade communication equipment.
Sheriff E. Wayne Risner and Deputy Sheriff Dave Blake made their $6.2 million request Thursday during an Ashland County Board of Commissioners meeting, which comes to $1.3 million more than the agency received in 2021.
The request, if granted, reflects a nearly 28% increase from the agency’s 2021 budget.
The reason for that, Blake said, is to buy three new cruisers for an estimated $150,000, which includes all the equipment that would need to be installed.
Blake also asked commissioners if they would be interested in buying new MARCS radios now instead of waiting until 2025, when agencies are required to upgrade radios to make them “Link-Layer” capable, a technology that verifies the identity of the radio each time it is turned on and increases security.
Blake said the agency could potentially save money by buying the radio equipment now because of a promotion from a supplier that offers a buy-back program for older equipment.
The money would also cover increased holiday pay for Juneteenth, which will be held June 20 as a paid holiday in Ashland County.
Blake and Risner said the additional funding would also help them in hiring additional staff. The agency would like to hire two deputies that would cover second and third shifts and to add a captain in the enforcement division.
Commissioner Michael Welch said the issue of hiring more officers is a matter of safety.
“Whether you’re looking at the safety of the officers or the safety of the community. So I believe it needs to be considered,” Welch said.
The agency cut hours and laid staff off in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Most of those staff have been recalled, Blake said, but the challenge remains to make sure those shifts are being covered adequately.
“We’ve got a great agency, our facility is one of the best in the state of Ohio,” Risner said, addressing the commissioners. He said the agency will have its jail inspected in the coming months and said the sheriff’s maintenance crew is totally moved.
The sheriff’s maintenance department used to rent a building across the State Highway Garage. It moved from there to a building it now shares with the county’s maintenance on Middle Rowsburg Road. Commissioners have said the move will save the county around $10,000 a year.
