MANSFIELD -- Radios, Tasers, ping pong tables and inmate uniforms were all on the $93,650 list of needs the sheriff's department presented to commissioners Tuesday.
"We're kind of getting nickled and dimed to death," Sheriff Steve Sheldon said of the list compiled by Maj. Roger Paxton. "We've burned up a lot of our resources."
Sheldon said he hired four women last week and has plans to hire 10 more people. He is authorized to have 72 people on a staff that is now at 56.
The sheriff, accompanied by Paxton and Chief Deputy Rick Reeves, met with the board about some of the ongoing issues at the $21.5 million facility that houses both city and county inmates. Commissioners asked Sheldon to break down the list of needs to items that will be used for 20 years or more so they can decide where funding might come from.
Commissioner Ed Olson commended Paxton for doing an excellent job in running the 260-bed jail, but said it has numerous technology problems. The county is withholding about $200,000 in payments until vendors make things right, he said, citing the telephone system. Olson also said the county is spending less money on overtime at the jail than it will when the facility is fully staffed.
"We are in budget, if not slightly below budget," Olson said.
Paxton said the sheriff's department moved everything it could from the old jail rather than buying new. The jail population was listed at 265 Tuesday.
Sheldon, civil division deputy sheriff Kathy West and Clerk of Courts Lin Frary also discussed House Bill 138, which requires sheriffs to file deeds for foreclosure sales. The law that goes into effect Sept. 11 was designed to help properties from being in limbo if deeds aren't filed. It gives local governments more tools to get control of vacant tax-delinquent parcels.
Read more...
"We're kind of getting nickled and dimed to death," Sheriff Steve Sheldon said of the list compiled by Maj. Roger Paxton. "We've burned up a lot of our resources."
Sheldon said he hired four women last week and has plans to hire 10 more people. He is authorized to have 72 people on a staff that is now at 56.
The sheriff, accompanied by Paxton and Chief Deputy Rick Reeves, met with the board about some of the ongoing issues at the $21.5 million facility that houses both city and county inmates. Commissioners asked Sheldon to break down the list of needs to items that will be used for 20 years or more so they can decide where funding might come from.
Commissioner Ed Olson commended Paxton for doing an excellent job in running the 260-bed jail, but said it has numerous technology problems. The county is withholding about $200,000 in payments until vendors make things right, he said, citing the telephone system. Olson also said the county is spending less money on overtime at the jail than it will when the facility is fully staffed.
"We are in budget, if not slightly below budget," Olson said.
Paxton said the sheriff's department moved everything it could from the old jail rather than buying new. The jail population was listed at 265 Tuesday.
Sheldon, civil division deputy sheriff Kathy West and Clerk of Courts Lin Frary also discussed House Bill 138, which requires sheriffs to file deeds for foreclosure sales. The law that goes into effect Sept. 11 was designed to help properties from being in limbo if deeds aren't filed. It gives local governments more tools to get control of vacant tax-delinquent parcels.
Read more...
