The Carbon County commissioners are moving forward with obtaining a lightning suppression system for the county correctional facility.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board voted to hire Schade Engineering Inc. to prepare the specifications for an electrical design for the new lightning suppression system at the prison. The work will cost the county $4,700.Commissioner William O'Gurek, chairman, explained now that this is in place, the county will soon be able to put the project out for bid.According to previous quotes, it is anticipated that the total cost of the project will be around $15,000.On Wednesday, the motion to recommend this company to the commissioners was approved by the prison board.The county prison board, which the commissioners are on, have been looking into a lightning suppression system to protect the prison from lightning strikes, which it has been the victim of numerous times over the last few years.In May, the board discussed one estimate for the suppression system, which includes placing high-voltage surge protectors on the electrical system. That estimate, submitted by Turner Lightning Protection Company Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, came in at $13,690.In other matters, the board approved the 2011 Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $48,832. The grant will help support salaries and benefits of the Emergency Management coordinator and the administrative assistant.The county also approved two agreements, which were recommended by the prison board. The agreements include an inmate telephone service at the prison through Global Tel Link Corp.; and a memorandum of understanding with DSI-ITI, LLC, for inmate banking services through a walk-up, ATM-style kiosk.Other actions include:• Adopted a resolution extending best wishes to Chief Joseph Kercsmar on his retirement as a volunteer firefighter and emergency responder in the borough of Palmerton. Attorney Michael Ozalas wished him the best of luck and said Kercsmar was a real leader.• Approved the 2011/2012 Hazardous Materials Response Fund: Act 165 grant agreement in the amount of $8,021.