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Kosciusko County approves new jail food-service contract; county projects big per‑meal savings
Summary
The commissioners approved a contract with Kellwell Food Management (a correctional-focused provider) to supply meals to the county jail, financed from the jail commissary account. Officials said the county currently pays about $2–$2.30 per meal and expects the new contract to reduce that to under $1 per meal.
The Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a new food-service agreement for the county jail with Kellwell Food Management, a vendor the sheriff’s office said focuses on correctional facilities.
Sheriff Jim Smith described the company’s contract model as a flat-fee arrangement tied to the jail’s capacity; the vendor’s buying power, Smith said, should lower daily meal costs. Smith told commissioners the county currently pays about $2.00 to $2.30 per meal and that the new contract could reduce that cost to under $1.00 per meal.
Smith said he had reviewed the draft contract with the county attorney and that the agreement, with the auditor’s attachments, was approved for signature. He said the sheriff’s office hopes to start the contract as close to the beginning of the year as possible. Commissioners moved and seconded the approval and voted unanimously in favor.
Funding and oversight: Smith said the contract will be paid from the jail commissary account. He told the board he had discussed the arrangement with other sheriffs in the state who had contracted with Kellwell and reported satisfaction with the service.
What was not decided: The meeting record does not include the final contract amount or a multi-year term in the commissioners’ discussion; documentation was described as attached for review by the auditor and county attorney.
