By AMY MILLER

amiller@tnonline.comCarbon County officials are eyeing the prison commissary fund to help offset the costs of drug and alcohol programs for inmates.During the county prison board meeting on Wednesday, county controller Robert Crampsie recommended using part of a $42,000 sign-on bonus to help pay for a $54,000 agreement with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission for drug and alcohol treatment services at the prison.The bonus, received earlier this year, was awarded for signing on with Oasis Inmate Commissary Services to operate the prison's store.The county also receives 40 percent of all commissary sales."I think I found an area where we could get some funding for at least the first year," Crampsie said, adding that after looking at the prison's audit, he found that the commissary had a fund balance of approximately $119,000 before the sign-on bonus.Crampsie informed the board that at one time, Title 37 restricted counties from using the money for purposes other than for the well-being of all inmates.However, in 2004, that restriction was removed, meaning that counties can move the funds to the general fund or use it for other projects."I think it would be good to use that $42,000 to get treatment for some of the inmates," he said.Commissioners William O'Gurek and Thomas J. Gerhard thanked Crampsie for looking into saving the county money.But, Mary Fairchild, administrative assistant at the prison, said that the sign-on bonus may not be a feasible option."We took a big portion of the bonus and purchased new mattresses, jumpsuits and hygiene supplies," she said, adding that the total cost was approximately $15,000-$20,000.She said the inmates' electronic library, televisions, cable services, bus tickets and other necessities are paid for through the commissary fund.O'Gurek, Gerhard and Commissioner Wayne Nothstein were surprised by the purchases, since the county was not aware of them.Crampsie said the procedures call for the commissary fund being utilized by the prison to pay for inmate necessities that normally would be coming out of the general fund.However, the warden decides what should be purchased, rather than the prison board.O'Gurek questioned this practice, saying that he is "uncomfortable with purchases being made" without the county's approval first.Nothstein asked if the prison could supply a report on expenses paid for using the commissary account.Fairchild said that would be no problem.Crampsie said that even if the $42,000 was not available, he feels that some amount in the commissary fund should be designated and used to offset the program's costs.O'Gurek said he would like Crampsie and the county solicitor to look over everything to determine what amount should be used and make a motion at the prison board's November meeting.In other matters, Frank Shubeck, work release director, announced that the firing range is almost complete.The range is being built on the grounds behind the prison on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning.It will be utilized a few weeks a year by county corrections officers, sheriff's deputies, probation officers and Nesquehoning Police for certification purposes.Shubeck said that Bob Stempa Excavating, who has been volunteering his time, is almost done leveling the area and constructing a backstop. A layer of modified fill will then be spread. The project did not cost the county any money.