Drug Issues at Correctional Facility Dominate Monday's Supervisor's Meeting

The Winston County Board of Supervisors met today (Monday – Aug 15) in a regularly scheduled session. After approving the minutes from the previous meeting, board members heard from Joy Mills of Care Lodge, a domestic violence shelter based in Meridian that serves 9 counties in our area including Winston. Care Lodge provides shelter, counseling and preventative services to those suffering from domestic abuse. Care Lodge is asking for any financial assistance possible from the county. Winston County last provided funds to the program in 2009. The Board took the request under advisement as budgets are currently being established.
The Board also heard from Tim Palmer concerning the need to begin setting specifications and requesting bids for a new control board at the county correctional facility. The control board controls locks, cameras and doors at the facility and has gone down on a few occasions in the past. Palmer estimated the cost to replace around $125,000 and that he believed that funds could be authorized from Excess Revenue Funds.
After approving the request to begin the process, Supervisor Parkes asked Palmer about the recent drug test failures by inmates. Palmer indicated that the most recent drug screening resulted in 12 positive tests out of 63. He indicated that unfortunately this was typical throughout the prison system in the state. He stated that 15% of the inmates were screened on a monthly basis and that each month the facility did 300 bed searches and 9-15 area searches. He also gave some interesting examples of how drugs and drug paraphernalia, cell phones and tobacco products were entering the jail. He indicated that guards could not strip search visitors to the facility (only a pat down is allowed) which allowed some drugs into the facility and that individuals were using some innovative methods to throw material over jail fences as well. The costs of an in- house drug dog was prohibitive due to regulations but that the facility did use the Sheriff’s drug dog when available.
Palmer was also asked about medical care of inmates and if it would be possible to ask local doctors to bid on inmate care. He indicated that local doctors often won’t treat inmates. He also indicated that while they took no bids on medicine costs, they did try to use all locally owned pharmacies.
Acting Sheriff David Edwards informed the Board that one Sheriff’s officer started at the academy but tore up a knee during training and that another officer would start training in October.
The Board also heard from Phyllis Benson of Golden Triangle Planning & Development concerning FEMA approval of a local siren project, bills for work with the Bond Water Association, A grant close out package for the solar lighting at Dean Park and the scheduling of a public hearing on September 6 at 10 am concerning a Rural Development Grant for funds to purchase a new communication repeater for the County through District 4 and a needed resolution to pursue grant funds for repair of the Courthouse Annex roof.
The Board received notification from the City of Louisville of their intent to nominate Wilson Webb for the shared position on the Economic Development Board. After discussion, the Supervisors voted to nominate Wayne Moody to another currently vacant position on the Eco/Devo Board as well.
The Board also reviewed additions and deletions to the County equipment inventory, reviewed and authorized change forms for the tax roll, and reviewed the car tag hold list. Assessor Miles indicated that some in her office had been taking partial payments of liens against car tags and issuing the tag. She informed the Board that the matter had been straightened out and that in the future- taking partial payments would result in an automatic dismissal of that employee from her office.
The Board then went into executive session to further discuss some issues with Gerald Mills, the Economic Development Director. The next session is scheduled for September 6th.