T-L Photo/DYLAN McKENZIE The new Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and County Jail is coming closer to completion, and on Monday county commissioners approved new furniture to the building, bringing it one step closer to being ready for employees.

WOODSFIELD — As the new Monroe County Jail gets closer to completion, local officials received approval for some new equipment that will be vitally important to the facility on at Monday.

Monroe County commissioners heard from Phillip Keevert, the director of the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency. Keevert was present to receive approval from commissioners to purchase new radio equipment for the building, which will be used so that law enforcement can stay in communication as they are away from the facility and out serving the public.

Keevert said the equipment at the site will be all new, and will hopefully serve the county well for many years. Keevert brought the commissioners several price quotes from Staley Communications, where the radios would be purchased.

The first quote was for the equipment itself, for $31,028.

Keevert said that the money will purchase the county four UHF radios, as well as two 800 MARCS radios. The equipment will be tied in to the MARCS communications systems used by the county, allowing the sheriff’s department to talk to other law enforcement, as well as fire and EMS crews.

The second quote was for $17,804, which will include racks for the radios, connections, and installation of the equipment. The commissioners approved the equipment., and Keevert said that it “should be installed in the next couple of weeks.”

Commissioners also heard from Lt. Rick Shipp with the sheriff’s department regarding furniture for the new building. Shipp showed commissioners a large workstation that can used by dispatchers and other employees at the jail.

The large piece of furniture will have walls to give workers a sense of privacy, which they can also use to pin notices or other needed paperwork. The station has enough space for four computer monitors, allowing several employees to work on different programs. Shipp said that the workstation will cost around $32,239, which includes the set up and installation.

“If I can get that approved today, we can have it in by Jan. 3,” Shipp said. Commissioners approved the request, and Shipp thanked them. He added that the department is starting some “major training this month” at the new facility, and invited commissioners down anytime to check it out.