WHITLEY CITY —   County officials are continuing to adjust to life without a local jail.

    Last Tuesday, McCreary County Fiscal Court met in regular session — approving two measures needed to make the new transportation plan work.

    First, the court formally approved the hiring of Courthouse Security Officers Debra Moses, Jerry Anderson and Steven Cox as part-time transportation officers.

    When the jail closed January 4, McCreary County Judge-Executive Doug Stephens issued an executive order allowing courthouse security to assist Jailer Tony Ball, who is serving as primary transport officer. Though Judge Stephens initially indicated that Courthouse Security Chief Randy Garland could also serve as backup, on Tuesday officials indicated that a female would be needed for the fourth part-time position.

    As it stands, Ball is expected to serve as “first out” Monday through Friday and as “second out” on weekends. The jailer’s salary will remain at $79,000 per year (plus benefits).

    Courthouse security will apparently rotate with the exception of Moses, who is needed to accompany female inmates. The part-time officers are to be paid $8.30 per hour (matching their Administrative Office of the Courts-funded wages) for actual transports and $2 per hour while they wait “on call.”

    While Judge Stephens indicated the plan had been agreed upon following a meeting between himself, the jailer, Sheriff Gus Skinner and courthouse security; Jailer Ball indicated Tuesday that he was having difficulty.

    “I worked 38 hours as of yesterday in one day,” the jailer told the court, “and I can’t do that.”

    An inmate transport log provided by the Judge-Executive’s Office indicates that Jailer Ball made eight runs to Laurel County Correctional Center between the jail’s closure on January 4 and the fiscal court meeting on January 8:

    • January 4 (5:17 p.m. to 6:42 p.m.) — one inmate

    • January 4 (9:44 p.m. to 11:44 p.m.) — two inmates

    • January 5 (7:41 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.) — one inmate

    • January 6 (3:37 p.m. to 7:14 p.m.) — one inmate

    • January 6 (7:14 p.m. to 9:08 p.m.) — one inmate

    • January 6 (10:50 p.m. to 3:08 a.m.) — three inmates, assisted by Moses.

    • January 7 (3:05 p.m. to 6:02 p.m.) — two inmates

    • January 8 (11:57 a.m. to 2:11 p.m.) — four inmates.

    Jailer Ball could not transport through the rest of the week due to illness.

    Between January 5 and January 9, Anderson made three runs (assisted by Moses once) totaling just over 15 hours. Between January 9 and 10, Cox made two runs totaling just over 11 and a quarter hours (assisted by Moses once during a court-related run to Whitley County Detention Center. Between January 9 and January 11, Moses clocked just over 17 hours — including three solo runs.

    In addition to figuring out the scheduling logistics, county officials must also contend with updating transport vehicles.

    While the jail had a cruiser as well as a van, the car’s odometer needs to be fixed and the van must be outfitted with a cage in accordance with safety regulations. The van can seat 12 but Sheriff Skinner noted during the court meeting that fitting four in the Crown Victoria is a violation of law. Judge Stephens also noted that acquiring a four-wheel drive should be considered.

    “Even with snowy roads, we’ll still have to transport,” he said.

    On Tuesday, fiscal court members also approved an agreement with a company called Future Hope for electronic monitoring of non-violent inmates. The county already uses the London-based EMCON for ankle bracelets but Future Hope is offering the service at $8 per day for house arrest and $10 per day if the inmate is either working or performing community service.

    Officials are hoping that electronic monitoring will help control lodging costs the county must pay neighboring jails.

    While Laurel County is currently lodging local inmates (45 as of yesterday afternoon) at $27.50 per inmate per day, the county is working with court officials toward issuing more criminal summonses and electronic monitoring (with community service) for violations such as non-payment of fines.

    McCreary County Deputy Judge Andrew Powell has told media the goal is to have an average of 30-35 inmates per month lodged elsewhere. With most long-term inmates going to Laurel County, it is still hoped that an agreement can be reached to house short-term (48 hours) inmates at Whitley County Detention Center.

    Whitley County charges more (the state rate of around $31) but would help alleviate some transport costs (particularly since local inmates could appear in district court in Whitley County as we share judges).

    Both facilities are capable of video-conferencing — another way to reduce transport costs once the equipment is installed in McCreary County.

    The Corbin Times-Tribune reported on January 9 that Laurel County Jailer Jamie Mosley expects that the influx of McCreary inmates could significantly reduce the burden of Laurel taxpayers to fund their jail. Mosley reportedly told Laurel Fiscal Court that the jail’s revenues could just from $1.2 million per year to nearly $3 million.

    Deputy Judge Powell is estimating that McCreary County’s jail costs will be no more than $600,000 per year now that the jail is closed.

    Jailer Ball has told The Record that he is estimating $720,000 per year in jail-related expenditures.