Venango County is planning to bring in an interim warden for the Venango County jail until a new warden is hired.
County commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract between the county and the State Department of Corrections for the county to bring in a program manager from a state prison as the interim warden.
“It’s great to get an outside set of eyes on the jail,” commissioners chairman Sam Breene said. Breene added there were no particular issues or problems going on at the jail that prompted them to seek an outside opinion.
“They are coming in to help us and make sure we are doing the best we can. The timing was right,” Dulaney said.
Dulaney added it will also be good to have Kusiak look at the programs at the jail while the county is between wardens.
“This was a good opportunity to get an outside set of eyes and make the jail and the county better,” commissioner Albert Abramovic said.
Breene added that having a temporary warden will also give the county more time to interview, hire and train a new warden.
The commissioners said the secretary of the State Department of Corrections and the interim warden will tour the jail in the near future.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners approved a grant agreement for upgrades at Two Mile Run County Park.
Kauffman told commissioners people have been out at the park ice fishing and cross country skiing. He added that the park’s annual Polar Plunge is scheduled Feb. 27.
The panel approved a contract with Terry Williams for election related services. Chief clerk Sabrina Backer said Williams has contracted with the county for a number of services.
And the commissioners congratulated Kelly McKenzie, the recently retired jail warden, and Bob Daugherty, the county’s longtime chief probation officer, on their retirements. They also thanked McKenzie and Daugherty for their many years of service to the county.
