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Commissioners press staff for clarity on Turnkey inmate‑medical contract before provider switch
Summary
The court discussed a proposed emergency contract with Turnkey Health Clinics for inmate medical services that county staff said may cost roughly $1.17M plus per‑diem overages; commissioners requested a special meeting with Turnkey reps and further negotiation before final approval.
County attorneys and staff presented a proposed contract with Turnkey Health Clinics LLC to begin Jan. 1 as the jail’s medical provider. The contract shown in the packet listed a base of roughly $1,170,000 for up to 540 inmates, with a per‑diem surcharge for counts over that threshold; attorneys warned the base amount would be exceeded if current population levels persist.
Several commissioners expressed concern that the contract documents reflected outdated or insufficient assumptions. One commissioner said, “we're agreeing to $1,200,000, and you don't even know what you're getting,” and urged either further negotiation or a special session with Turnkey representatives. County counsel explained that while executive session for contract negotiation requires a prior written finding under the Open Meetings Act, commissioners could discuss terms in open court and schedule a special meeting to quiz the vendor and seek further changes before any final award.
The court directed staff to arrange a special meeting with the company and to consider short, lawful interim coverage if needed while negotiations continue. County attorneys and purchasing staff were asked to re‑check per‑diem math, the contract payment schedule and whether payment dates could be shifted to fit county voucher cycles.
