Funviralpark 
County officials are finalizing the adult jail food service contract.
At the December 16 meeting, the county board unanimously voted to accept the bid from Summit Food Service, and the staff has contracted.
My previous contract expired on December 19th.
The deal was on the December 27 committee’s agenda for full approval, but was withdrawn as it was not yet finalized, Commissioner Joe Briggs said during the committee meeting.
Contract numbers are based on 400 meals, three times a day, 365 days a year, for a total of 438,000 meals, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Van Dyken.
The 5-year contract includes annual meal price increases, with a base year cost of $1.875 per meal.
Summit also agreed to pay the county $200,000 to upgrade an existing prison kitchen.
The county owns the kitchen facilities and equipment, and Summit has a cooking staff on site, manages inmate workers, and orders groceries.
Inmate kitchen workers are supervised by detainees, he said.
Kitchen equipment is bigger, more expensive and requires more wear and tear, he said.
Kitchen duty is a privilege in prison, Van Dyken said. The prisoner gets up early in the morning and he has to cook meals for 400 people three times a day. They receive no rewards, but some other perks for their good behavior and hard work.
The county received two bids for prison food service. One from Summit and one from Trinity Service Group.
Trinity’s bid included $2.12 per meal, not including the $200,000 needed for kitchen improvements, according to county documents.
