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County official briefs court on jail staffing shortfall; safety committee noted as inactive
Summary
A county department head briefed the Quorum Court that the jail is understaffed relative to Department of Corrections standards and that the county's safety committee has not been meeting regularly; he suggested the budget committee review staffing and safety implications.
A county department head told the Van Buren County Quorum Court that jail staffing is below Department of Correction standards and that the county's safety committee has not been meeting regularly.
The official said he had provided an information sheet showing the jail was short by four jailers under Department of Correction staffing standards and that the matter is primarily a budgetary issue. He asked that the budget committee review the staffing data; he offered to appear before the budget meeting to discuss details. The court record shows the next budget meeting was scheduled for Oct. 14 and that staffing projections were expected by then.
Court members and staff noted uncertainty about membership and meeting frequency of the county safety committee. One court member said the safety committee "seldom ever meet[s]," and staff confirmed a resignation had reduced committee membership. The presenting official said he would provide the information to the budget committee if there were no separate safety committee meetings.
Remarks were presented as informational; the court did not take a formal action at the meeting on staffing levels or on reconstituting the safety committee. The official offered to attend the budget meeting to provide further details.
