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Show Davis Officials Ponder Housing State Inmates By MARK D. M1CKELSEN FARMINGTON Davis County officials are considering approval of a contract with the state to house 15 minimum security inmates from the Point-of-the-Mountain prison in the Davis County Jail. PROVISIONS of the contract were presented to county commissioners last week by Sheriff Brant Johnson who said the state has already agreed to pay the county $125,000 a year for space in the new jail. The sheriff said he recently met with 28 Utah sheriffs sher-iffs and several prison officials who were told by state authorities that money will be available to counties who agree to house state prisoners to alleviate allevi-ate overcrowding problems at the Point-of-the-Mountain penitentiary. IN ADDITION to helping out the state, Sheriff Johnson said he sees the contract as a way to allow the jail to hire two additional deputies and a secretary. All expenses for the 15 prisoners, except for food, will be taken care of by the state. This will leave approximately $65,000 in unbudgeted funds which the sheriff told commissioners he wants to use for additional, desperately needed personnel. HE SAID flit state has assured the county that there will be a constant income for inmate housing for at least two years. Sheriff Johnson said he is aware of the county's hiring freeze and budget restrictions, but said the money is a "gift" from the state that cannot be turned down. HE SAID evxp if the county refuses to take in additional prisoners there is still a need for more employees at the jail. "I think we ought to take these prisoners," Com. Chairman Ernest Eberhard said. "That's $65,000." AUDITOR LUDEEN Gibbons argued that the county is too far into the budget year to allow the sheriffs department to take on additional employees. em-ployees. "Then we'll have to open the budget," Com. Eberhard said. MRS. GIBBONS said the fiscal 1982 budget, beginning begin-ning in January, "has to be on the counter" by Friday, Nov. 27, and told Eberhard she doesn't have the personnel to handle any major changes. Com. Glen Saunders sided with the budgeting arguement, saying, "I honestly feel that those (jail) slots are going to be taken up by local prisoners." "I DON'T kNOW what you base your thinking on," Sheriff Johnson said, noting that the daily prisoner pris-oner population runs at an average of 80 to 100 inmates. in-mates. The jail will hold 120 prisoners when the new addition is completed. When the south cell block is finsihed the sheriff said there will be an additional 20 bunks. HE EXPLAINED that just because prisoners are booked into the jail doesn't mean they'll be needing a bed. Many are awaiting bail or criminal hearings. "I'd like to see the implications this (contract) has on the budget," Com.' Saunders told the board. THE FIGURES to manage the jail are "reasonable and accurate," Sheriff Johnson argued, urging the commission to accept the state's offer while it is still available. Mrs. Gibbons, one of the architects of the fiscal 1982 budget, said a number of county departments said if they could have additional personnel they, too, could generate some revenues. "THE JAIL is top priority," Sheriff Johnson said, noting that severe civil problems can arise if the facility is not managed properly. "I'd invite any of you to spend an eight-hour shift in the building (jail)," he tolc the county officials. He said those few personnel who man the jail have "to keep a lid" on some potentially dangerous situations around the clock. "We are at risk if we do not run a safe jail," Com. Eberhard said, agreeing with Johnson. EVEN AT the state prison level there is one staff person for e very five prisoners, the sheriff said. One prison in Colorado, he said, has one jailer for every two prisoners. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 Coinfy Officials Ponder Housing State Inmates CONTINUED FROM FRONT "Whether you have 80 (prisoners) in the building or 100 prisoners in the building it takes a lot of effort," Sheriff Johnson said. HE SAID any decision to alter budget plans "is painful for me, but I just don't know any way to get around it." Com. Saunders, still balking at the proposal, said he would like to see an alternative to the plan. "THE ONLY alternative is to run short," the sheriff sher-iff told him. He said there is not one employee in the jail that can be moved without causing a major "void" in the operation. IN ADDITION to jailors, Sheriff Johnson said there have to be officers available to investigate crimes when they happen, otherwise he said resi dents scream "loud and clear." "I have a great responsibility to handle public safety in this county," he said. COM. EBERHARD, still supportive of the state contracts, said, "I'm just a little greedy. I'd like to get my hands on that $65,000." The sheriff noted that the only thing that has kept the jail operable is employees who are willing to work beyond their 40-hour-a-week limit. If they weren't we-ren't as cooperative, the sheriff said "we'd be out of business." COM. SAUNDERS said he has some questions about the program as outlined. "I'd personally like to chew on it awhile," he said. Therefore, due to the absence of Com. Harry Ger-lach, Ger-lach, the contract proposal was tabled. THE COMMISSION is expected to review the issue sometime this week. |