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Detention center warns council of rising medical and maintenance costs
Summary
Captain Jeremy Chapman said overtime and medical vendor costs are increasing, with 16‑hour medical coverage costing about $834,000 and 24/7 coverage estimated near $1.3 million; the jail also needs roof and equipment repairs.
Captain Jeremy Chapman told council the detention center regularly exceeds its overtime budget because minimum staffing levels are required regardless of inmate count. He said unplanned repairs this year — including a commercial dishwasher — pushed the facility into the red for equipment maintenance and that annual camera system maintenance and fire‑safety inspections are also rising.
Chapman highlighted medical coverage as a major cost driver: maintaining 16‑hour daily medical coverage through a vendor was quoted at about $834,000; moving to full 24‑hour coverage would increase that to roughly $1.3 million. He said the facility can keep operating with contingency funds if necessary but urged council to consider the recurring need.
On capital needs, Chapman and other staff discussed a roof replacement for the sheriff’s campus with an architect estimate near $1.2 million; $900,000 in state grant funds are available and Chapman requested an additional $300,000 to complete the project. He also detailed smaller capital requests including replacement mats and a potential metal detector installation, and asked for discussion about repurposing ARPA and bond funds to free capital for the roof.
The committee asked staff to return with options for covering vendor medical costs and for prioritizing capital repairs.
