The Butler County Prison is starting to replace kitchen equipment.

The county received five quotes ranging between $15,027 and $20,500 for a new braising pan to replace a broken steamer.

John Campbell, director of county facilities and operations, said a braising pan is more versatile than a steamer, which is a pressure cooker.

He recommended selecting a Cleveland, citing its quality.

The Webstaurant Store submitted the lowest bid for a Cleveland at $16,136.

County solicitor Mike English explained the braising pan can be bought without a formal vote.

The purchase will be funded from the supplies line item, which has $274,065, in the budget.

DeMore said the kitchen equipment is aging, so more will need replaced in coming years.

The prison opened in 2009, but the equipment is even older due to construction delays at the South Washington Street site.

Prison revenue

The prison is earning revenue again by housing inmates from other counties.

Franklin County has 10 inmates housed in the Butler prison. Butler is paid a daily rate of $60 per inmate.

Sheriff Mike Slupe, prison board chairman, said Franklin County brings its inmates here, so Butler is not incurring those costs.

“They do all the transporting,” he said.

Although the county had not been housing prisoners from other counties since last year, it continued to house state and federal inmates.

The county receives a daily rate of $72 for state prisoners and $77 for federal inmates.

As of Feb. 28, the county generated $236,892 in revenue from housing state and federal inmates in 2017.

Warden on panel

Warden Joe DeMore was appointed to sit on an American Jail Association panel on use of force.

He is one of eight panelists who will work to reform use of force policies and practices in jails across the country.

New tool

DeMore said the prison would begin using a new electronic documentation system in July now that the equipment has arrived.

The new system enables correction officers to log information about their daily walking tours using a device called a PIPE.

The PIPE is inserted into downloader boxes stationed throughout the prison and a punch pad.

DeMore said shift supervisors would be able to ensure officers were completing their duties as well as inmate statuses.