Oak Harbor authorizes interlocal agreement with Skagit County for jail services

The Oak Harbor City Council on Oct. 25 authorized the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with Skagit County for jail services, a measure the council said will provide more flexible regional housing options and reduce lengthy transports to more distant facilities.

Chief Tony Slowick of the Oak Harbor Police Department told council members that since 2020 the city has relied on several county and regional facilities for overnight custody holds and that travel times to existing contracted facilities could be six to eight hours round trip. Slowick described a recent incident in which an inmate with significant medical needs could not be accepted by some facilities because those facilities lacked 24-hour medical coverage; Skagit County provided accommodation in that case. "SCORE recently went through a provider change. When that happened, they did not have 24-hour medical, doctor services... they didn't feel comfortable accepting that person," Slowick said.

Slowick told council that Skagit County's facility is larger and that, while Skagit's guaranteed and non-guaranteed bed rates are higher than some alternatives, the shorter transport times, better accommodation for medical needs, and proximity to prosecutors and courts make it a practical option for Oak Harbor. The police department budgets $435,000 annually for professional services; the staff presentation said jail services funding would come from that line item.

Council members discussed the trade-offs between cost and reduced vehicle wear and travel time. Council member Merrill said she was "a little surprised about the higher rate" but supported the agreement given reduced risks and wear and tear on city vehicles. Council member Marshall asked about the kinds of medical care Skagit can provide that other facilities currently cannot; Slowick replied that changes in medical providers at other facilities removed 24-hour medical oversight, which limited their ability to accept detainees with high medical needs.

Council member Marrow moved to authorize the mayor to sign the interlocal agreement with Skagit County for jail services; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with no opposing votes recorded.