The Zion Shelter and Kitchen’s life may get extended at Monday’s scheduled meeting of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.

The county’s only homeless shelter is in danger of closing due to low funds, as explained by Zion Shelter board treasurer Harlan McKendrick during last month’s commissioners’ meeting. McKendrick requested money from the county, but was asked to return with the request during the county’s budgeting workshops next year.

Since, Commissioner Robert Belcher has looked into the shelter’s finances and said he will ask commissioners to make a one-time appropriation of $15,000 to fund Zion Shelter.

“They’re not completely out of money — there’s a little but of fund balance left — but it’s going fast,” Belcher said. “I don’t think it should shut down. I’d hate for that to happen. I expect in the wintertime, it’s probably kept some people from dying outside in the cold.”

Zion Shelter, located in the basement of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Washington, opened in 1986 and has continuously served the male homeless population of Beaufort County. The shelter has 12 beds and by law can only accommodate 12 men per night. Clients are asked to leave the premises during the day but most return for the free lunch that’s served Mondays through Fridays to anyone in need — a lunch provided through partnerships with many area churches and nonprofits.

Also on the agenda for Monday’s meeting is a budget amendment request by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office is requesting an additional $67,365 to update systems in Beaufort County Detention Center, located in the basement of the Beaufort County Courthouse.

“We’re looking to upgrade the surveillance camera system in the detention center,” said Chief Deputy Charlie Rose. “The majority of that cost is for the cameras and storage to upgrade the server.”

Rose said the remainder of requested funds would be spent on several different upgrades: a new public address system offering two-way traffic; adding audio recording to control areas to record all interactions between officers and those they arrest when first brought into the jail; and replacing the system that makes a digital record of detention officers’ rounds. The fact that the old system does not accurately record officers’ rounds has been an issue with state officials.

“Everything we’re looking to improve has been some way seen as a deficiency in the past,” Rose said.

Also on the agenda as items to be decided are a proposed donation to the county of land in Belhaven, a budget amendment by county EMS Director John Flemming, an animal adoption fee adjustment and a item involving county recall elections put forth by Commissioner Hood Richardson.

The meeting is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. in Room 111 of the County Administrative Office, 121 W. Third St., Washington.