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April 22, 2008


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NEWS

Law Enforcement Committee Discusses Jail Options, Central Dispatching

HUNTINGDON (April 17) Carroll County’s Law Enforcement Committee discussed its options after the county jail was decertified on March 24 by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI). The 32-year-old jail is located along U.S. 70E in Huntingdon. Additionally, the prospect of a central dispatch center, for all the emergency providers in the county, was sent back to the 9-1-1 Board to conduct a second feasibility study.

Mayor Kenny McBride said a new 150-bed jail will cost the county $8- to $10-million to replace the existing 112-bed Carroll County Jail. However, the mayor presented an idea to build new at the current site, preserve the two 32-bed minimum security men’s dorms, construct a new minimum security women’s dorm, and construct new maximum security cells for both men and women, a new commercial kitchen, booking room, nursing stations, video arraignment room and visitation room, and new sheriff’s offices – possibly at a cost of $4- to $5-million with less impact on the county’s budget or tax rate. Two payments of $153,000 each remain on the County Office Complex and will retire in 2009. The only other county debt is for the 2006 remodeling of the Carroll County Courthouse.

According to McBride’s plan, the current jail would continue to be used until the new jail is complete, when the current jail would be razed. Construction would probably begin in two to two and one-half years.

A video arraignment room would allow the courts to arraign the inmates via video without transporting the inmate back and forth to the jail. A video visitation room would allow inmates to visit via video instead of in person. That would increase the security of the facility and reduce the introduction of contraband into the jail.

Sheriff Bartholomew said the plan looked O.K. to him, however the state ultimately will tell the county how to build the jail. Bartholomew said the jailer’s booth needs to be designed so the jailer can monitor both the men’s and women’s complexes. He indicated the county would be “lucky” if it could start construction in 2-1/2 years. He termed as “blackmail” the state’s forcing all the counties to build new jails.

McBride said there are no grant funds and no money from the state to build a new jail.

McBride said he contacted Jerry Hartsfield with TLM Architects in Jackson concerning the proposed plan. TLM indicated it could work, said McBride. TLM will be asked to conduct a feasibility study.

Prior to making any move, the Law Enforcement Committee requested the state’s jail inspector address the full county commission concerning the status of the current jail.

The findings leading to the decertification are: (1) physical plant deficiencies are due to an aging facility and lack of staff. (2) Female inmates were relocated from the female cell area to an area designated to house male inmates. This move was due to the overcrowding female cell area. This allows for (prohibited) communication between male and female inmates. (3) The facility does not have a secure booking area to process prisoners or inmates. (4) The facility’s outside recreation area allows for sight and sound contact between male and female inmates. (5) There is no outdoor recreation provided due to lack of staff and sight/sound issues for male/female inmates. There is no room provided for programs or activities outside the cell areas. The facility is not overcrowded, indicated the report. During the March 20 inspection, the jail had 64 inmates and has an average daily population of 75. At the time of the inspection, six were state prisoners, 31 were local prisoners, 27 prisoners were on pre-trial status. The population consisted of 52 males and 12 females.

The county’s insurance provider continues to insure the current facility and its operations, said McBride.

Neighboring Henderson and Benton counties must construct new jails as well. Henry County is adding a dormitory to its new jail. McBride said Haywood, Hardeman, Hardin, Chester (80-bed), Fayette, Decatur, Benton and Henderson counties are currently building new jails or must build a new jail. Haywood is building a 175-bed, $15 million jail and justice complex. Haywood raised property tax 40 cents per $100 assessed value plus a $40 wheel tax to fund the project. Hardin is building a 184-bed, $9.2 million facility. Hardin raised the wheel tax $36.00 annually.

After three attempts to develop a central dispatch center for all the county’s and cities’ emergency service providers, the idea is being sent for a feasibility study by the state’s 9-1-1 commission. The city of McKenzie voted last week to participate in the county’s central dispatch agreement. McKenzie, Huntingdon, and the county maintain around-the-clock dispatch centers and are considered to be the three entities to fund the lion’s share of the project. Previously, McKenzie would not commit to the project.

Now with McKenzie’s commitment, the plan is being sent to the Carroll County 9-1-1 Board for additional fiscal assessment. The last feasibility study was conducted in May 2005.

Sheriff Bartholomew said central dispatch will require additional certified dispatchers, a new location, and a director, which he heard 9-1-1 director Teressia Barksdale has already selected from Weakley County. Bartholomew indicated central dispatch, overall, will not save money. It may save McKenzie and Huntingdon money, but each of the smaller municipalities would also be asked to provide funding, noted the sheriff. Currently, the county dispatches - without charge – for the smaller municipalities. Earlier this year, 9-1-1 consoles were placed at both McKenzie and Huntingdon to allow all 9-1-1 calls originating in those cities to be answered by the respective city dispatch center instead of the sheriff’s department. Each city’s 9-1-1 consoles are operational, but all 9-1-1 calls still first arrive at the sheriff’s department, not the cities.

The sheriff said, “I couldn’t be for it right now.” He indicated a feasibility study needs to be completed first.

Bartholomew said central dispatch would save time in case of an emergency and would prevent the caller from having to repeat the emergency message – first to the county dispatcher and then to the emergency provider in McKenzie or Huntingdon.

Commissioner Joel Washburn asked if the dispatch center could be included in the jail construction.

McBride said the current THP offices, located at the jail, were constructed for a central dispatch center.

Washburn suggested the THP offices be relocated and those offices be used for central dispatch, as originally constructed.

Bartholomew indicated the THP offices may not be large enough for the central dispatch center, although it is designed with under-floor conduit for radio cabling and has a kitchen. McBride indicated the steel building could be enlarged as necessary.

The committee voted to ask the county’s 9-1-1 board to conduct a new feasibility study before proceeding.

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April 22, 2008