Some kinks in the new Butler County Prison still need to be worked out. About 20 issues remain.

Ten of the original 29 items have been resolved in recent weeks.

Warden Rich Gigliotti said at Tuesday's prison board meeting all the problems are minor.

"There wasn't anything wrong in the building that compromised security," he said.

While several inmate cell doors in pod G were not opening and closing properly, that area is not being used. Only six of nine pods are operational.

Two of those six pods are not used for general population. One pod is the diagnostic unit, where inmates await assignment to a permanent cell, and the other is the restrictive unit for inmates who must be separated from the general population.

Issues with doors in other areas were resolved. Some of those problems were electronic so the doors were accessed using keys.

Doors still not functioning correctly include those entering the laundry and maintenance rooms from corridors.

Most of the malfunctioning toilets, which weren't flushing properly, were fixed.

Among the unresolved items are a couple leaks through the roof. One leak is above the lobby while the other is at the rear by the employee entrance.

Replacement of damaged glass is another lingering issue.

Gigliotti said each of the five times the glass for two windows was sent by Cornerstone Detention Products of Tanner, Ala., the $5,000 glass pieces were marred.

An item not included on the list of 29 was scratched glass bordering an office for the food service contractor.

Gigliotti suggested the county accept a $5,975 offer from an insurance company on behalf of CJ Construction Group in Bethel Park.

He said the damage is not sufficient to cause a problem if left alone.

"It does not have an impact on security," Gigliotti said.

County officials opted to verify the damage won't cause future problems before accepting the offer.

Gigliotti doesn't anticipate any difficulties correcting any unresolved issues.

"The vendors have been cooperative," he said.

There won't be any need to rush any fixes for the three unused inmate pods.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, board chairman, said later prison operations will be limited to the open six pods.

He pointed out the county would need to hire additional staff, which means a higher expense, to man the extra pods.

"At the present time, we're not going to do it," Pinkerton said.

However, the prison board earlier discussed using the extra beds available in the six pods.

Gigliotti said there are 40 beds unoccupied. As of Tuesday, there were 262 inmates housed in the South Washington Street prison.

Counting used and unused general population pods, there is space for a total of 512 inmate beds. The county bought 400 mattresses before the building became operational in late June.

Pinkerton agreed with Gigliotti that whenever the county would open other pods, the process would be done one at a time.