Randolph County commissioners approve inmate medical contract renewal, UDO legislative updates and juvenile reclassifications

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved several items during its meeting, including a contract renewal for inmate medical services, adoption of legislative updates to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and a personnel reclassification at the Juvenile Day Reporting Center (JDRC).

Medico/Medeco inmate medical contract: County staff recommended renewing the contract with the county’s inmate medical provider, Medeco Incorporated, for fiscal year 2025–26. Steven Nunn presented the request and said the county has determined “our continued partnership with them for inmate medical services is in the best interest of our organization and well-being of our inmates.” The contract price presented to the board was $143,391.32 per month, totaling $1,720,695.84 for the fiscal year; Nunn said the increase from the prior year is about 3 percent. The board voted to approve the renewal and authorized the county manager to sign the contract.

Medicaid and inmate care: Captain Davis clarified that most medical insurance does not cover in-custody services; county staff said Medicaid does not cover inmates for inside or outside services under current rules, and private insurance would generally apply only to services provided outside the detention center.

Unified Development Ordinance legislative updates: Planning Director William Jodz presented legislative updates that reflect changes enacted by the General Assembly and other state-level requirements. Highlights included prohibiting battery-charged electric fences, allowing regulation of radar used for drone traffic control, clarifying on-site signage reconstruction where landowners are forced to remove signs, and formalizing permit delivery procedures (mail or email). The planning board had unanimously recommended the updates; the county opened and closed a public hearing with no speakers and then adopted the ordinance.

Juvenile Day Reporting Center reclassification: Pam Resch told the board that JDRC sought to convert one full-time transportation aide position into two part-time transportation aide positions and one part-time data-entry clerk (classification grade 106 for data entry and grade 101 for part-time transportation aide). Resch said the change does not require additional budgeted dollars. The board approved the reclassification and authorized recruitment for the part-time positions.

Other formal actions: The board adopted the consent agenda (including a Police Week proclamation) by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: - Medeco contract renewal (inmate medical services): motion to renew for FY 2025–26 at $143,391.32 per month ($1,720,695.84 annually); outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified in transcript; vote recorded by voice (ayes/ noes called; counts not specified). - Unified Development Ordinance legislative updates: ordinance adoption reflecting state-mandated changes; outcome: approved after public hearing; mover/second: not specified; vote by voice. - JDRC reclassification: reclassify 1 full-time transportation aide into 2 part-time transportation aides and add 1 part-time data entry clerk (grade 106); outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified; vote by voice. - Consent agenda (includes Police Week proclamation): approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The Medeco contract commits roughly $1.72 million in the coming fiscal year for inmate health services; the UDO updates implement state-mandated changes that affect development rules and permit delivery procedures; the JDRC changes reflect an administrative reclassification that county staff said will not change cost but will adjust staffing structure.

Ending: Commissioners approved the measures by voice vote and directed staff to proceed with contract signature, ordinance implementation and recruitment for the reclassified positions.