A smoke detection system will help keep the Juvenile Detention Center open, the Natrona County Board of Commissioners decided during a public meeting Monday.

Earlier this year, the Department of Family Services issued a temporary operational license to Cornerstone Programs Corp., the company that replaced former operator Frontier Correctional Systems Inc. in April.

The temporary license could only become permanent contingent upon the county's agreement to install updated smoke detectors in the facility, DFS officials said at the time of issuance. Without a permanent license, the facility could not continue to operate or hold inmates.

"The measures that we are currently taking were required by and worked out between the county and DFS in order to keep the facility open at this time," Commissioner Barb Peryam said. "Cornerstone is now in the facility, and consequently when we had a change in management, it was the perfect time for DFS to get involved in what they'd like improved."

County Attorney Eric Nelson said the installation agreement with Sprecher Electric Inc. in Casper requires that all work be completed no later than Oct. 30, and is scheduled on a 90-day timeline.

The "magic date," as Nelson referred to the date by which DFS requires all work to be finished in order to issue a permanent license, is Nov. 1.

"This is something we agreed to do for DFS and we needed to do it in the detention center, so I think it's worth it," Chairman Rob Hendry said just before the commission unanimously voted to approve the $118,303.12 contract.

Contact reporter Megan Lee at (307) 266-0589 or megan.lee@trib.com