Douglas County will be the proud owner of a new X-ray machine in about six weeks because of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant.

The machine, which is worth about $30,000, will be used for security purposes at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center along with a new $4,500 metal detector.

But there’s a problem. The county doesn’t have money to staff the new security system in 2005. Even more of an issue, no money initially was requested in the projected 2006 budget to staff it.

“We weren’t sure if or when we would get the equipment,” said Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern. “But now that we know, we have to figure out how to implement it and man it.”

Douglas County Sheriff deputies provide security in the judicial and law enforcement center. Department officials recently put in a request to fund new deputies to help with court security. McGovern estimates it will cost more than $200,000 to staff the security system at what he and staff members view as an adequate level.

“The sheriff’s department is going to get some funding,” said Douglas County Commission Chairman Charles Jones. “We don’t want to have the equipment in storage and not being used. But it won’t be the full amount. Sheriff McGovern is going to have to figure out how to best use the funding we can provide.”

Douglas County commissioners discussed the matter of security and security staffing at the judicial and law enforcement center Wednesday with McGovern. Much of the debate happened during an executive session because of security issues.

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Commissioners received two proposals from the sheriff’s department on how to staff the new security equipment, which will be placed in the lobby area of the building.

One proposal calls for hiring four new armed deputies at a total estimated cost of $214,788. The second proposal involves hiring six armed deputies on a part-time basis and one full-time armed deputy for an estimated $222,543.

The commissioners didn’t discuss the cost estimates in the executive session, Jones said.

McGovern declined to disclose how many deputies were stationed at the judicial and law enforcement center because of security issues.

“I think the big issue here is that we’re trying to make the place safe for the public and the employees,” McGovern said. “We’re trying to figure out how to implement the new equipment to help with that.”