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Lamar County sheriff reports jail near capacity, radio upgrade and staffing authorizations
Summary
Sheriff Marty Gotwell told commissioners the jail is near capacity (87 inmates today, including 20 females), reported the first phase of a county radio system went live, and the commission approved a staffing preauthorization and a department-funded pay supplement for deputies and jailers.
Sheriff Marty Gotwell reported routine operations at the Oct. 6 meeting and said jail population and capacity are immediate concerns. Gotwell said 87 inmates were processed and transported to Kilby Prison that morning, including 20 female inmates, and described the facility as at or near capacity.
Gotwell publicly praised staff (Miss Perkins and Mike Wisdom) and thanked the 911 board and county commission for support of the radio upgrade. "The first phase of our radio system was stood up yesterday, and we actually can talk from Millport now down the South end," he said, calling the work a significant communications improvement.
The commission approved a manpower authorization allowing the sheriff to hire within preapproved limits between meetings, provided hires are reported at the next meeting. Commissioners also accepted a letter from the sheriff committing office funds to provide a $1-per-hour raise for deputies and $0.79 per hour for jailers and the sheriff's office administrator; the commission approved the supplement.
Commissioners discussed ongoing repairs and projects at the jail and asked that staffing and capacity be regularly reported at future meetings. No formal additional staffing hires were recorded in the meeting minutes beyond the authorization.
The commission also approved routine maintenance and facility repair items on the agenda, including bids and a sprinkler riser repair.
