Saline County commissioners have confirmed that Sheriff Glen Kochanowski has told them he plans to close the county’s juvenile detention facility early this week.

Commission chairman Randy Duncan told the Salina Journal it’s unclear whether the sheriff has the authority to close the center. He says Kochanowski called each commissioner individually Friday to inform them of his decision.

Duncan says the question is whether the sheriff or the county commission has the authority to close the facility. He says commissioners are aware there were some issues at the facility, but he didn’t know if they were temporary or long-term problems.

Commissioner John Price says he hopes the county can look at what is working elsewhere to find ways to deal with juvenile offenders.