Cheatham County approves Trinity Services Group jail food contract and creates $100,000 reserve for unused inmate food funds

Cheatham County commissioners on March 21 approved a food service agreement with Trinity Services Group to provide inmate meals at the Cheatham County Jail and created a restricted reserve for unused jail food‑service funds.

The contract approval, moved by Tim Williamson and seconded by Diana Pike Lovell, passed by roll call vote 11–0 (one absent). Exhibit A and Schedule 1 attached to the agreement establish the financial terms: a capital equipment investment of $38,000 that Trinity will amortize over 36 months and a price‑per‑meal scale tied to daily inmate population bands. The contract language requires the county to reimburse the unamortized portion of the $38,000 investment if the agreement is terminated before the 36‑month amortization period ends.

The Schedule 1 price-per-meal table in the contract (examples): 71–85 inmates: $2.287 per meal; 86–100: $2.00; 101–115: $1.799 — with lower per‑meal prices at higher population bands. Trinity invoices weekly in arrears and the county agrees to pay within 30 days of invoice receipt; past‑due invoices may bear service charges if unpaid.

Separately, commissioners created a reserve titled 'Unused Jail Food Service Funds' (account 101‑34625‑07) allowing up to $100,000 of unspent food‑service dollars at fiscal year‑end to be retained for future inmate population fluctuations. The reserve was proposed to reduce the need for emergency transfers if inmate counts exceed budgeted levels.

County minutes include a written example of the equipment‑fund repayment calculation: if the contract is terminated with 12 months remaining the unamortized reimbursement would be $38,000/36 months × 12 months remaining = $12,666.67.

The prison food contract and the reserve were adopted as part of the Mayor's package of administrative items brought forward during the meeting. Commissioners did not record public objection to these items during the session.