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Edmonson County's Number One Source For Local News and Information

County Faces 40% Cost Increase At Hart County Jail, Seeks New Contract

2/15/2017

4 Comments

 
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Darren Doyle, story:
According to Edmonson County Judge Executive Wil Cannon, the county is facing a cost increase from $25 to $35 for daily inmates at the Hart County Jail, which is a hefty 40% increase for the same facility and services.

Currently, the county does not have a local jail and must contract jail services to another county. Edmonson County currently pays $25 per day, per inmate to the Hart County Jail to house county prisoners.

The county currently has 19 inmates lodged at Hart County Jail for a total cost of $475 per day. If the increase were to be put in effect today, Edmonson County would see an additional $190 cost per day, which is an additional  $5700 per month, something that Judge Cannon says is impossible for the county to fund.

"We'll simply have to rebid the contract," he said. "There's just no way the county can afford that right now, so it's a difficult situation."

Cannon said the current contract price has been in effect for several years and that there has been no need to renegotiate.

"We've had a good price at $25 per day for a while and that compared really well to our bordering counties. Obviously that's going up and we'll have to do something different."

Several residents have argued that a better solution would be to simply build a jail within the county and reap the financial benefits of keeping the funds at home; however, Cannon said that's a misconception.

"Some think we can just build a new jail here and all the problems will be solved, but that's really not an option either. We'd have to build a facility that would comfortably hold a minimum of 200 inmates which would cost hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. We only have a yearly average of around 15-20 inmates per day, so we'd still be trying to pay for a facility that would actually cost more than the $25 or $35 per day that it costs now. There are only four jails in the state of Kentucky that are turning a profit and that's only because they're housing federal prisoners."

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​Hart County Jailer Israel Bergenson said the jail is currently losing money on the Edmonson County contract and they have no choice but to raise the price.

"This contract was first made ten years ago," he said. "The cost of living and everything else over ten years is forcing us to increase the price. We're actually losing money on this contract right now. It's costing us at least $32 per day per inmate, so even with an increase to $35 per day we'll only be making a couple of dollars."

Jailer Bergenson said the contract should've been renegotiated long ago but it was something that he said simply fell through the cracks.

"Jails all over the state are struggling just to operate," he said. "We can't operate at this current price."

Cannon said that the county will have until the end of the fiscal year to make a final decision, which is June 30th, 2017. 

"We're reaching out to other local jails to rebid the contract," said Cannon. "It could be a long process to work out details in a new contract, but the bottom line is we have to have a place to house inmates and we can't provide that here in Edmonson County right now."

Cannon also said that the slow process of the court and legal system doesn't help matters and that other options to cut down on unnecessary jail time have been extensively researched.

"We're doing more home incarceration now than ever for non-violent criminals, but those that participate in the program have to pay the fees associated with that. If they can't or don't pay the fees, we're stuck with the bill, so there's really no help there and we just can't start turning a bunch of inmates loose because of a high cost." 

Judge Cannon said that another jail option is being sought now and a solution will be found as soon as possible. All bordering counties currently have jails which include Butler, Grayson, Hart, Barren, and Warren.
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4 Comments
Tim Skees
2/15/2017 03:23:26 pm

Honestly, Edmonson Co is about 20 years behind all neighboring counties in infrastructure, services, businesses and workplaces/factories.
Why is that.

I MUST liken it to the same situation a Constable faces here.
It is QUITE relevant.
Fiscal court has, for 20 plus years, had limited amounts of monies to function with, yes. I agree with that. BUT, Edmonson county fiscal court has had an " If it isn't broke, don't fix it." attitude.
The " we like things just as they are, and do not need to change things." attitude is why we do not have lights on Constable cars, we have no factories, nor jobs, infrastructure, a jail, good sheriff cars, good county road vehicles and equipment. Our PEOPLE here , be it county employees, citizens, business owners, public servants, etc, have made miracles happen with duct tape, dreams and good will.

We have a good business and progressive minded Judge Exec, and he wants what is good for the future of this county.
But as I have seen, as being a public official at fiscal court meetings, when the Judge Exec must explain to a magistrate what the limits of his job is, and what he can and can NOT due under the laws and that he MUST abide by the laws of the state, pertaining to fiscal court magisterial duties, then I think its about time we look at the county fiscal court, and how it's idea of "everything as it is" ( or was 20 years ago) in our case......just isn't cutting it anymore.

When a magistrate can THREATEN an elected official by " Raising your bond to two million dollars if I wanted to." (according to the state, ILLEGAL to make that threat), and just because an ELECTED official provided these same magistrates, with copies of STATE LAW, defining the duties of a certain ELECTED position, then one MUST question, Are we not ready for a CHANGE in tired stale leadership in some places ?

That " like it was 20 years ago" syndrome or outlook can no longer be applied, if we want this county to prosper !

As commented in fiscal court public record, when Judge Cannon had to correct a magistrate whom said " I thought we agreed four years ago, that we were not going to allow a Constable to do anything." Well, if that is the "training" one receives at Louisville's $1000 week long magistrates training, I would probably ask for my money back.

When a magistrate states, that a Constable can not have a white light, nor even a red light on their vehicle ( although a firefighter/rescue squad member for 8 years( simply because they are a Constable, then the judge, AGAIN had to advise the magistrate THE LAWS, and even needing to call upon our Sheriff, to read aloud the STATE LAW, owing to the magistrates lack of knowledge of the issue, then I would have to submit, that that magistrate is not capable of holding their position and prospering Edmonson Co.
What has changed in the last 10 years ?
Practically NOTHING.
What has ALSO not changed in the last 10 years? MOST of fiscal court.
To run a county, takes knowledge , training and a WANT to look forward.
A progressive attitude and outlook. Keeping things as you want them, not as how THE PEOPLE want them, is not being a PUBLIC SERVANT, but being SELF servant to your own wants and needs.

Edmonson county needs MORE. The people DESERVE MORE.
Edmonson Co deserves JOBS, FACTORIES, NEW BUSINESSES and some new fiscal court magistrate views. The old crusty self serving attitudes need to go by way of the dinosaur.

I am but a lowly Constable in the eyes of some magistrates.
However, I KNOW the laws. I KNOW my job. I DO MY JOB. ( as best as I can, with all the help and support I get from fiscal court)
I wonder if magistrates would care if the no longer received payment for being a magistrate ? Would they pay to serve the voters? Unlike the Constables they wish to choke out, magistrates get paid for their two meetings a month. Constables don't receive one dime from the county for the services we provide.

Of course, we dare not look north , south east or west, or one might find counties who HAVE factories, jobs, infrastructure and opportunity.

ODDLY enough, those fiscal courts SUPPORT their Constables.
Imagine that.

Welcome to the future. As soon as you choose to stand up and VOTE for one.

Peace to all, and THANK YOU Judge Cannon for looking AHEAD for Edmonson Co.

Someone up there has to.

And before we get the smart comments and rebuttals from the same commenters.....
I DO my ELECTED job. None has ever done it with the sincerity and dedication and commitment that I have. Likely, none other will.

I take pride in helping people and serving the voters. Those whom try to tear that down and harass me in doing my job, are simply people who do not care about anything other than themselves.

Before you run me and my opinion down, run over to your local volunteer fire dept and rescue squad. Fill out an application. Serve your community. Make those 4am runs in the freezing cold or the 100 degree runs in summer.
That's right, you won't.
Its much easier to b

Reply
Tim Skees
2/15/2017 07:23:51 pm

Continue from above....

It's much easier to be a keyboard hero than a real one.
I work with REAL heroes every day and our county is full of them.
I am PROUD of each and every one.
At 4am they don't have a sorry attitude and a keyboard in their hands to bash people with, rather, they carry axes, fire hoses, handcuffs, warrants, etc, and a genuine caring and drive to serve Edmonson county and make it a safe, better place to live.

Thanks EV !

Reply
Jason wood
2/15/2017 06:43:16 pm

I swear i cant figure out why someone who never has nothing better to do but run down are fiscal court and are County don't just move! Always negative nothing never good enuff so unhappy just don't go back where they came from!

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The Edmonson Voice
2/16/2017 09:28:50 pm

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