Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners discuss jail staffing and recommend renewing medical services contract with CPS
Summary
County officials reported jail vacancies and staffing efforts and debated a recommended one-year renewal of the jail's medical services contract with CPS; administrators cited higher costs driven by compliance with medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and risk management practices.
County officials reported continued staffing shortages at the jail and debated whether to exercise the contract renewal option with the current medical services provider.
Chris Braun (Human Resources) told commissioners, "We currently have 5 vacancies in the jail," and that five correctional officers started training in the November class, reducing a previous count of 10 vacancies to five. The sheriff's office also reported two deputy vacancies and said recruitment and upcoming training classes are in progress.
The correctional facility representative recommended exercising a one-year renewal option with CPS, saying the renewal clause is part of the current contract and that staff must provide 30 days' notice if they intend to renew. "I would recommend that we do renew with them," the Correctional Facility Representative (Speaker 12) said, noting reconciliations were so far about $87,000 over anticipated cost with a quarter remaining in the contract year.
Sheriff and other commissioners said higher county costs reflect the county's compliance with MAT (medication-assisted treatment) protocols and other risk-management practices: "The reason our costs are elevated is because we're doing it the right way," said Unidentified Speaker 11, referencing state statute and MAT-based practice. Commissioners asked for comparative data from other counties to contextualize the per‑inmate medical costs.
The board moved a renewal "subject to approval of counsel;" the motion was seconded and later recorded as approved in the meeting record. There was no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript; commissioners engaged in discussion about cost drivers and vendor comparisons before agreeing to proceed.
What happens next: administration will prepare renewal paperwork and provide comparative cost and performance information to the commissioners on request.
