Morgan County Commission moves forward with jail

Lauren Estes

Hartselle Enquirer

The renovated portion of the Morgan County Jail will feature additional 450-bed jail addition and add-ons approved by the Morgan County Commission during their meeting Tuesday morning.

Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin was present at the meeting and thanked the commissioners for their support in the process of seeing the facility through.

“We received our certificate of occupancy today and we already have a lot of stuff done that needs to be done and several things that we are waiting on will be done within a week,” Franklin said. “We hope to have people moving in that area by the end of the month.”

The Decatur Building Department’s approved the $11 million jail addition and will allow Franklin to begin housing city inmates as well, but necessarily within the recently added wing.

The commission approved several requests, including creating 23 jailer positions that Franklin said she will post immediately to attempt to fill the positions.

The additional positions will keep the county in compliance with a federal court consent decree in relation to jail conditions.

The 23 jailers will receive $11.43/hour salary, which will cost the county about $920,000 a year. This will be covered through the $100,000 a month paid by the city for 20 years to reserve 120 beds in the jail. The estimated $1.2 million a year in monthly payments for the jail will cover the cost of the additional jailers.

“We hope and plan to have everything completed by mid-April, but the work won’t prohibit being able to house the inmates in the addition before completion,” Franklin said.

The Morgan County Jail hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new addition on Thursday, Feb.16 at 10 a.m.

According to the County Commission’s agenda, they elected to adopt a resolution for the following expenditures for the new jail addition: Supplies (hygiene items, uniforms, and other clothing items) for

150 inmates at an estimated cost of $88.00 per inmate. Two food carts not to exceed $10,000 total, uniforms and personal equipment for 23 employees at an estimated cost of $318.97 per employee, and two 65 inch televisions and mounting brackets. The also selected some office furniture consisting of the following: Three elevated office chairs, 22- six-foot tables for classrooms, 50 stacking chairs for classrooms and 23 units of employee handheld radios.

In other business the council:

Adopted resolution for the acceptance for bid from the lowest responsible bidder meeting specifications for one new vehicle for Morgan County Commission, District 4, with only one bid being received from Lynn Layton Chevrolet in the amount of $31, 996.

Adopted a resolution for the acceptance of the lowest quote and authorization for Chairman to enter into contract for fencing at Park and Recreation/COA, submitted by Jones Fence Company in the amount of $2,960.00 and certify the contact to be awarded is let in the compliance with the Public Works Law and all other applicable provisions of the law.

Adopted a resolution authorizing the Chairman to bid the Inmate Telephone  and video visitation systems for the Morgan County Jail.

Adopted a resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the contract with Nationwide Employee Benefits for providing Employee Group Term Life AD&D and Dependent Life effective April 1, 2017- March 31, 2019.

Adopted a resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the employment contract with Patrick E. Bryant representing services to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office at the rate of $1,875.00 (monthly rate) per calendar year effective Feb 4, 2017 through December 31, 2017 with 100 percent reimbursement to commission by Sheriff’s Department.

Adopted a resolution authorizing the Chairman to contract with Kenneth A. Mitchell to provide services to the Morgan County Commission on Aging Office at the rate of $50 per scheduled event, effective Feb. 14, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2017.

Adopted resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute and the County to perform the terms and provisions of the contract for services between the Alabama Department of Youth Services and Morgan County regarding payment for Medicaid services performed and provided by Morgan County System of Services, Inc., effective October 1, 2016 and ending September 30, 2017.

Adopted resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute contract with Canon Financial Services, Inc. for a (3) three year copier lease for the Morgan County Environmental Department in the amount of $109.31 per month in accordance with the NACPA Purchasing Cooperative.

Adopted resolution authorizing the Chairman to terminate contract with Keet Consulting Services, LLC for monthly services, effective March 2, 2017, on behalf of the Morgan County Sales Tax Office.

Adopted resolution authorizing the Chairman to terminate the contract with Lawrence County Commission for housing of animals, effective March 31, 2017. Adopt resolution authorizing the appropriate Elected Official/Department Head to fill the following positions: Assessment Clerk, Grade 2 ($10.17 – $13.27) —- License and Part Time Animal Control Officer, ($8.34, no benefits) —-Animal Control.

Adopted resolution amending the Morgan County Policies and Procedures Handbook as follows: Chapter 13 – Drug Free Workplace/Attachment A – SAFETY SENSITIVE CLASSIFICATIONS

Adopted resolution approving the Public Records Request Form for inspection and production of records.

Adopted resolution authorizing Randy Vest, District 2 Commissioner to declare various filters, nuts and bolts as surplus and sell on GovDeals.com.

Adopted resolution authorizing the reappointment of Mr. Clint Shelton to the Pryor Field Regional Airport Authority for a term of five (5) years, ending February 28, 2022.

Adopt resolution authorizing the Chairman to purchase one hundred and forty-eight (148) mattresses for the new jail at the total cost of $5,772.00.

Adopt resolution authorizing the hiring of 23 additional correction officers with four of these employees being sergeant status for New Jail Addition Staffing.

Adopt resolution authorizing Johnny Howell, Director of Environmental Services to purchase the following vehicle in accordance with the NJPA Purchasing Cooperative contract number T191/4013404, in the amount of $26,800.00, to be paid out of Environmental Services’ funds: 2017 Dodge R2500 Crew Cab.

Adopt resolution authorizing Johnny Howell, Director of Environmental Services to purchase the following dumpsters and equipment in accordance with the NJPA Purchasing Cooperative in the amount of $43,100.00 to be paid out of Environmental Services’ funds: (8) 30 Cubic Yard Standard Duty Bathtub ROC 22’ Long and (4) ROC Covers with Permanent Mount 12’ – 23’ Long..

Adopted resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the following contracts representing the promotion of Morgan County, which will be payable out of the Tourism, Recreation, & Convention Fund as follows: Morgan County FFA/ 4H Steer Show for $1,000.00; Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo for $1,000.00; Hartselle Youth Wrestling for $450.00; Decatur-Morgan Hospital Foundation (Dragon Boat Races) for $1,000.00.

Reviewed and approved the invoices totaling $18,144.23 for Morgan County

Adopted resolution cancelling the Tuesday, February 28, 2017, meeting and reschedule for Thursday, February 23, 2017.

Adopted resolution authorizing the purchase of a UML/ HY 100 Mulcher from Thompson Tractor in accordance with NIPA Contract number NIPA 8543 at the cost of $28, 237.00.