Brown County Jail has seen a rising inmate population and is looking to explore contracts with other jails to help with the nearing capacity jail count.
Brown County Commissioners approved Jail Administrator Becky Caffey’s request to look into the cost and possibilities of working with other counties for transfer of inmates to other facilities to “help ease population and stay in compliance.”
County Judge Ray West stated that the jail count, according to a report given with the request, was at 188, and mostly male in population.
Caffey explained that the jail count has been hovering at a high rate and not going down, and the holding cell numbers fluctuate but all wings stay full at a population of 180 or more. “We need to start exploring possible contracts with other counties.” She explained that it would be best to contract with nearby counties but that counties with newer facilities should be considered, since these would not be at full capacity. Counties such as Comanche, Taylor, Shackelford, Nolan and Gillespie were mentioned as possibilities. Caffey stated that having a contract with nearby counties would help ease the burden of transports which cost both time and money.
Commissioners approved the request for Caffey to explore transfer contracts with other county jails for housing Brown County overflow inmates, leaving the details as to what population count would be the trigger for transfers to Caffey’s discretion.
In other unrelated matters on Monday’s agenda:
*Commissioners took no action on implementing a burn ban.
*County Auditor Nina Cox received approval to advertise the release of Request For Proposals (RFPs) for Emergency Medical Services/Ambulance Services. According to Cox, the county’s ambulance committee recently held a meeting jointly to create the request for proposals for ambulance service starting January 1, 2016. Cox stated that she was responsible for advertising for proposals for service for cities and areas within Brown County. The advertisements would begin on July 10, 2015.
*Commissioner Larry Traweek, Precinct 4, received approval for installation of a private line on County Road 161. The line is a Brookesmith Special Utility District water line which will require a cut in the dirt road, to county specifications, explained Traweek.
*Justin Surratt and David White of McKinstry received approval for a reimbursement resolution. This resolution allows the county to be reimbursed for any expense paid for by the general fund up to $7.5 million dollars, over a three year term, in relation to the McKinstry project to upgrade county facilities, such as the county courthouse, juvenile justice center, county jail, and other buildings. The project goal, according to McKinstry officials is to update systems, replace aging systems and make the county’s buildings more cost and energy efficient. The exact cost and project details have not been established; however, Surratt and White gave a report on the project Monday and will return at the July 13, 2015 meeting of the Commissioner’s Court to present the project costs and details to the court for finalization, approval and possible action to be taken.
