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Sheriff and ambulance quarterly reports highlight jail population and rising transfer workload
Summary
Sheriff and ambulance presenters reported average jail population near 106, continued reliance on holding out-of-county and U.S. Marshals inmates, and a 52% increase in ambulance transfer volume that improved revenue; commissioners approved both reports.
At the April 21 meeting the sheriff and ambulance service presented first-quarter operational reports that highlighted jail population dynamics and a substantial increase in ambulance transfer work.
Sheriff Preston said the jail's average daily population for Jan. 1–April 21 was 105.6, with capacity approaching about 120. He said roughly 69% of inmate days were attributable to Yankton County and the City of Yankton and that U.S. Marshals accounted for about 19% of inmate days. Preston warned that court-appointed attorney and poor-relief budgets are projecting overages ($137,000 and $31,000 respectively) and that the county must monitor those costs.
Ambulance director Jeffrey Amuletz reported 606 calls in the quarter (up 65 from last year), 468 transfer transports and a substantial increase in out-of-town transfers. Those transfers raised weekly revenue recently to approximately $26,000 and put the ambulance service on pace to approach $1.3 million in revenue for the year if the trend continues. Amuletz also detailed collection shortfalls by call type — for example, invoiced amounts for 911 calls average $1,170, of which the service currently collects roughly $349.
Commissioners praised efforts to control personnel costs and approved both the sheriff's and ambulance reports by motion. No immediate policy changes were directed, but commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring staffing levels, transport agreements and related reimbursements.
