GLASGOW — Barren County Fiscal Court approved several measures that will grant law enforcement and rescue workers more equipment and discussed the eventual sale of the former county attorney building during its Tuesday meeting.

The court approved a request from Barren County Sheriff Kent Keen to accept a $4,500 Law Enforcement Protection Program grant. 

The Barren County Sheriff’s Office applies for the LEPP funds once or twice a year, Keen said. 

“It’s the money that’s awarded to law enforcement agencies for evidentiary weapons that are turned back in to Kentucky State Police,” he explained to the court, “and that money is used for body armor, Tasers and patrol rifles.” 

The court also awarded two bids for the benefit of Barren County Search and Rescue, based on the advice of Glasgow-Barren County Emergency Management Deputy Director Gary Chenoweth.

The first bid, totaling roughly $32,000, was awarded to Waterdogs Scuba and Safety LLC for dive team equipment, including drysuits and helmets, Chenoweth said. 

“We’ve got some equipment that’s been here for 10 or 12 years that needs to be replaced,” he said. 

This did not include breathing apparatuses, he said, because BCR’s breathing apparatuses are already up to date.

The second, at nearly $22,000, was awarded to Bill Matney Rescue Training for swift water equipment, including Grizzly Rescue Suits, which are designed specifically for rescue crews, and a paddle boat for four to six people, according to Kevin Poynter, a member of the Glasgow Fire Department, which oversees training for Barren County Search and Rescue.  

“That water is more cold than anything,” he said. “It’s just a thermal suit to keep us dry so we can extend our working period.”  

At the end of the meeting, the court went into closed session to discuss the sale of the old county attorney building on East Main Street.

Barren County Attorney Jeff Sharp relocated to a building on West Main Street in January, because the previous building had a bat infestation, according to Barren County Judge-Executive Micheal Hale.  

“We had to move people out of there for the simple fact that we didn’t want to get anyone infected,” Hale said.

There was a fear that people in the building could contract histoplasmosis, also known as cave disease, which can be spread through decaying bat guano, he said.

The court hasn’t decided who will handle the auction, Hale said.

— Follow Daily News reporter Jackson French on Twitter @Jackson_French or visit bgdailynews.com.