Warren County prison board tables proposed bylaws to require resident appointees and surprise inspections

Commissioner Kenneth L. Klakamp proposed amending the Board of Inspectors' bylaws to require that a person who joins the board when the president judge steps down must be a Warren County resident and not employed by the county. He also proposed holding two meetings per year at the jail and conducting two surprise inspections with written reports to the board.

Treasurer Lisa Barr moved and Sheriff Scott Neiswonger seconded a motion directing Chief Clerk Pamela Matve to send a letter to President Judge Hammond asking for written confirmation if he chooses to opt out of board membership. The board carried that motion. After discussion about the scope and timing of the bylaw changes, members agreed to table the substantive bylaw amendments until the March 24, 2026 meeting; the matter will remain on the agenda.

Board members discussed logistics and oversight language but did not adopt final bylaw text. No statutory citations or ordinance language were offered during the discussion, and the transcript does not record final wording for the proposed residency or employment restrictions. The board did not take a final binding vote on the bylaw amendments at this meeting.

The board's next meeting was set for March 24, 2026, at which the bylaws item will be revisited. The clerk was directed to send the letter to the president judge and to include the bylaw matter on the next agenda.