Carver County approves $63,360 to contract temporary medical staff for jail

The Carver County Board approved funding to contract medical professionals to cover vacant registered nurse shifts at the county jail while recruitment for two full-time RN positions proceeds.

Ben Beyer, Carver County jail commander, told the board the county shifted from a contracted medical provider to county-employed nursing staff in 2022 and currently has two vacant registered nurse positions. Beyer said the jail has seen an increase in acute medical cases, complications from polysubstance use and complex withdrawal presentations, and that contracted staffing is needed to ensure continuous, appropriate medical and medication administration until vacancies are filled.

Beyer said the county is actively recruiting, with nine applicants and interviews scheduled; he estimated that hires could realistically be in place by October, depending on backgrounds and notice periods. Director Sonya Goodwin of Health and Human Services told the board the requested contract would relieve the medical piece but not the separate mental health contract HHS runs for jail services; the two contracts are integrated in practice.

Commissioners discussed rising jail costs in the 2026 budget outlook and noted the financial and legal risks of inadequate jail medical coverage; one commissioner referenced a high-dollar settlement in another county as an example of litigation risk. The board made a motion to approve funding for contracted medical providers to cover vacant shifts; Commissioner Lynch moved and Commissioner Fahey seconded. Chair Workman called for the ayes and the motion passed.

The board did not provide a detailed multi-year budget for contracted services at the meeting; the funding request discussed in the item was identified in the meeting record as $63,360. Beyer said contracted services would be used only until the county successfully fills the two RN vacancies, at which point the contracting would end.