Quorum Court Talks Jail, County Wages

RISON - Improvements to the county jail and pay for county employees were two of the subjects that were discussed during the Cleveland County Quorum Court's regular monthly meeting Monday night. Sheriff Jack Rodgers informed the quorum court that DSL Detention Services of San Antonio, Texas, assessed the condition of the jail on July 22 and made what repairs they could make while the assessor was there. In particular, Rodgers said they made what he described as temporary repairs to the jail doors until a more long-term solution is found. Rodgers told the quorum court in July that he was going to have to close the county jail unless some major renovations were made, noting that there were several problems with the facility ranging from jail doors not working properly to a leaking roof. He noted that the jail was scheduled to be inspected by the state in July, but he said he felt he could get an extension if there was a plan in place to bring it in compliance with the Criminal Detention Facilities Standards. No figures were available Monday night as to how much it might cost to make the renovations. During the July meeting, the quorum court allotted up to $50,000 to pay DSL for the assessment and any repairs that could be made while the company was inspecting the jail. Rodgers said he tried to contact DSL before Monday night's meeting but was unable to get reach them. He said he asked DSL for two bids: one to repair what needs to be fixed and another to replace it. One thing that they did learn from the assessment, Rodgers said, was that many of the mechanisms used in the jail are now obsolete. He said the doors that were installed in the jail when it was built in the 1970's should have never been used. On a related note, the quorum court gave County Judge Jimmy Cummings permission to seek bids to put a new roof on the jail. Cummings said the last effort to replace some of the slate tiles on the ...