OSWEGO — Labette County commissioners and Undersheriff Greg Haraughty this week began a conversation about possibly increasing fingerprint fees for certain prisoners.
If it can be done, the discussion was to place the income from the increased fees into a special account that could be used in the future to buy a new fingerprint machine, which could cost $16,000.
The current biometric machine meets Kansas Bureau of Investigation standards. Prisoners facing state charges through district court are ordered to pay $45 for fingerprinting at sentencing. Some cities charge municipal prisoners $20 for fingerprinting. County Counselor Brian Johnson said a portion of the state ordered fee goes to the sheriff’s office but its use is restricted. Increasing the municipal charge is something that will be explored.
Commissioners and others will look into how to set up such a fund and see if it can be dedicated for a new fingerprint machine.
In other matters, the commission: Approved a Pitney Bowes contract for postage for the Public Works Department for $200 quarterly.
Approved an application for Emergency Management Planning Grant for the Emergency Management department.
