MOUNT VERNON — Sheriff Daniel Weckesser continues his search to fill four Knox County Sheriff’s Office positions.
Weckesser filled one detective job but said it would be a couple of weeks before the detective moves to the position.
“If we take someone out of patrol, that makes them short in patrol. So we’re working on hiring and moving people around,” he said.
“We’re four deputies down right now. We’ve got some good applicants, thank goodness, so we’re vetting them and going through that.”
The KCSO has two civilian employees who are attending the police academy. Weckesser hopes to have them in an FTO (field training officer) program around September.
Academy students can earn an associate degree through a two-year program or attend a six- or seven-month night school program.
After graduation, officers undergo a three-month FTO program once assigned to patrol.
“Sometimes that’s extended to six months if they need a little extra training,” Weckesser said.
Weckesser completed his third week of new sheriff training. What he learned about risk management prompted him to start a training program at the sheriff’s office.
“One of our lieutenants is going to be propping that up so that we can get up to the standards that we need to be at for training for all of our deputies,” he told the commissioners.
“It’s a slow process getting that up and going; there are a lot of certifications that he has to have before he can teach a lot of these classes.”
The jail population is 67: 52 males, 14 females, and one housed in Delaware County.
Weckesser, Deputy Chief Richard Miller, and the commissioners went into executive session to discuss personnel hiring.
Human Resources
Human Resources Director Courtney Lower updated the commissioners on HR activities the past month.
Seven new employees onboarded; 12 employees left county employment.
Other activities include CPR, first aid, and AED training. IT is repurposing equipment to enhance virtual conferencing and training space, and annual performance reviews are completed.
Legislative action
The commissioners opened bids for the 2025 roadside mowing program. Three companies submitted bids for the estimated $160,000 project:
•Running F Farms, $97,929.60
•Quick Mow Inc. $179,994.12
•Thompson Interstate Mowing Inc. $149,076
The commissioners awarded the Pleasant Valley Road bridge contract to McConnell Contracting Inc. for $868,840.95.
The engineer’s estimate was $1.039 million. Four other companies bid on the project:
•V.O. Menuez & Son $1,005,934.10
•Shelly & Sands Inc. $1,152,446.95
•Crawford Construction $938,074.46
•Buds Inc. $947,428.20
Also on the agenda was approving the Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Solid Waste District yard waste agreement.
Under the agreement, DKMM provides up to $30,000 for grinding trees and leaves into mulch at the compost site on Thayer Road.
Commercial businesses are allowed to drop off trees and brush. However, Commissioner Bill Pursel said that because of the increased volume, the commissioners might change the process.
County Administrator Jason Booth will provide the commissioners with more information next week. Issues include monitoring and financial considerations.
Other legislative actions include:
•Approving bidding for the Phase II Danville-Amity Road safety improvement project
•Amending the project agreement for the Danville-Amity Road project to reflect additional grant money
•Approving the bridge load rating agreement with the Oho Department of Transportation for $164,077
•Purchasing a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2025 GMC Sierra 2500HD for the Knox County engineer’s office, $49,905 each
•Appropriated $86,882 from the state for the Board of Elections for the May primary election
