Montgomery County commissioners approve use of additional $350,000 in CARES funds for COVID-19 supplies

In addition, the county is also preparing other emergency items in case of a hurricane or other weather event.

County departments as well as county hospital districts and emergency services districts can request items through the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management. The latter two entities could make these purchases on their own, but since they did not receive federal funding, it is easier for the county to to purchase it for them, officials said.

“We have the federal funds to pay for it,” Millsaps said.

The county also approved the purchase of fixed thermal scanner camera systems for the sheriff’s department at a cost not to exceed $500,000. The systems will be installed in jails, courthouses and other facilities.

“If someone walks in, it will automatically scan for temperature, and it will automatically alert whoever the system is designed to alert that someone has entered the building with higher temperature than our threshold,” Millsaps said.