Island County approves amendment to jail food contract after split vote

Island County commissioners voted 2–1 on Nov. 25 to approve Amendment No. 1 to the county’s inmate food contract with Summit Food Service LLC, a change that reduces kitchen staffing hours and raises the contract cost while maintaining the same daily calorie allotment for detainees.

Chief Briones, the county’s sheriff/chief who presented the amendment, said the district negotiated an option that reduces onsite kitchen staffing from 12 to 8 hours a day and replaces a hot breakfast with a cold breakfast while preserving the standard calorie intake. He described the 22% amendment as a bridge option that would not lock the county into long-term terms and noted a 90-day notice clause would allow the county to pursue other procurement strategies next year, including issuing an RFP or running food services in-house.

The board pressed for dollar figures. Chief Briones said the larger option that would maintain three hot meals daily — described in briefing materials as a roughly 44% increase — would have raised costs by about $110,000 for the next year; the 22% cold-breakfast option was described in discussion as increasing the county’s costs by roughly $40,000–$60,000 next year, figures chief Briones said he did not have in front of him for the meeting.

Commissioner Sinclair, who moved the amendment, framed the proposal as a necessary compromise amid rising costs. “These are challenging times, and we’re seeing nutritional challenges everywhere,” Sinclair said, thanking staff for presenting multiple options and calling the amendment a reasonable temporary step while the county explores alternatives.

Commissioner Johnson cast the lone dissent, saying he favored preserving three hot meals and that the county should fund existing responsibilities before adding new programs. “Minimum standards are easy,” Johnson said. “I think we can do better.” Johnson said the county was in a budget process that could support meeting higher standards and voted against the amendment on principle.

The motion to approve Contract Amendment No. 1 with Summit Food Service LLC for inmate food services was moved by Commissioner Sinclair, seconded on the floor, and passed on a roll call/voice sequence that produced two ayes and one no.

The amendment preserves medical-diet accommodations and, according to the presenter, keeps inmates on medically ordered diets. County staff said the board retains a 90-day-notice option to change course and may pursue other procurement options in 2026.

The board’s approval follows a prior work-session discussion in which staff outlined alternatives and trade-offs — notably between cost, staff hours and meal temperature — and occurs as the county continues broader budget planning for 2026.