Sharp County Quorum Court hears parking lot update

Following the passage of the minutes from the July meeting, the court moved on to other business.

County Treasurer Wanda Girtman said things were running smoothly and that bond payments would be made again in September.

Sheriff Shane Russell updated the court on revenue for the sheriff’s office.

“Over the last month, our NCIC was $2,481.27, nicotine sales $5,682.89, ADC housing $23,520, inmate reimbursement $467.42. and commissary $1,956 total revenue was $34,207.50,” Russell said.

He also noted that the office had been working toward saving money and despite having more inmates, had reduced food costs by several thousand dollars compared to this time last year.

“One other thing I wanted to bring your attention. We’ve been trying to cut costs the best we can without entering a quality issue. As of this time last year we’d spent $53,450.50 on food, right now, we’re at $46,310 that’s a little over $7,000 we’ve saved on food and we’re housing more people,” Russell said. “Out of that $7,140, there may be another invoice that will come off of that so that could take that down to roughly $3,500 to $4,000 instead of $7,000.”

Russell was asked about the air conditioning issues at the jail which had been causing a mold problem. He said that it was a work in progress.

“I think they’re making headway, I’m not satisfied but we don’t’ have mold growing. They’re headed the right direction, I don’t understand all what they’re doing but as long as we get the humidity down without costing a fortune in electricity I don’t see there is a bad ending,” Russell said adding the new camera system was being installed.

Girtman asked Russell if he had any connections with the state as the county had not received any funding for the last three months for housing state inmates.

Russell said he would address the issue first thing the following morning.

Having no resolutions or ordinances, Judge Mark Counts provided an update regarding the upgrades to the parking lot.

“We’ve gotten started on the parking lot project out front and hopefully in the next three weeks we can get a lot accomplished where you can see the progress being made. Start off with new sidewalks before they come in and finish off the parking lot,” Counts said. “Waiting to hear back from the state on the bridges we discussed a few months ago. We’ve got one road to finish on the state money that is going to help us put road crews back In the winter and we’re working on the tornado damage.”

Having no additional business, the floor was opened for announcements and comments.

J.P. Brianna DiIorio said she would like to share some information about a meeting she recently attended where several legislators had met to discuss the issue of the state failing to reimburse county jails for housing state inmates as well as their failure to pay the prosecuting attorneys.

She offered to follow up with Rep. Bart Schulz. Russell said it was a statewide issue not just singular to Sharp County.

DiIorio said they also discussed the issue of sending prisoners out of state to private facilities.

“It doesn’t make any sense at all, but that was some of the issues being discussed at that meeting,” DiIorio said.

Girtman said the state did pick up payment for some prosecuting attorneys but because of the what they’d chosen to do it, it was almost more hurtful than helpful.

Counts said he would contact the governor’s office to find more information and see if a solution could be found.

The floor was then opened for public comments, one member of the gallery addressed the court regarding an issue with gravel roads saying that his road had only been graded half way multiple times, but that the grading never made it to his property.

After being informed this was an issue for the county judge and not the court, the man responded he was aware, and was present to speak to Counts.

Counts said he would speak with the road grader again, and that he was under the impression the road had been graded.