Commission gets nowhere on jail bid

A half-hour debate Tuesday over how to obtain cost estimates to fix serious issues in the Curry County jail's kitchen and laundry facilities ended with no decision.

The debate was sparked by Administrator Gerry Billy's request to seek qualified contractors under a legal process know as a Request for Qualifications. During his presentation, an inspector for the state Department of Environmental Health told commissioners said the jail kitchen and laundry were considered high risk and she needed to see a plan to address very serious issues at the facility.

Earlier this year, a spokesman for the state agency said they would have closed the jail kitchen had it been any other commercial facility.

Inspectors cited the county for violations that included cross contamination of food and utensils, dangers to employees and inmates from numerous water leaks and failing to sanitize dishes and other utensils.

Commissioner Dan Stoddard offered a motion to approve Billy's request for an RFQ. Commissioner Robert Sandoval questioned what the RFQ was for, saying the commission has yet to decide whether to renovate the kitchen and laundry or build a new one.

Billy and Chairman Wendell Bostwick contend the current kitchen was built to handle a jail inmate population of about half the 209 in the facility now. Additionally, they said the equipment is outdated in both the kitchen and laundry.

County Attorney Stephen Doerr said in advertising for an RFQ, the county must have a specific project in mind, whether that be a remodeling or a new facility.

Billy said all he wanted was to try and determine who was qualified to tackle a kitchen and laundry project at a jail, whether it be remodeling or building a new one.

"I'm just saying there's an easier way to do it," said Doerr, noting that any architect could be called and asked to develop cost estimates.

The debate ended with Stoddard withdrawing his motion.

In other business:

• Billy was granted a $2,000 a year raise following a two-hour executive session involving his six-month job evaluation. The raise, coupled with a 2 percent raise granted all employees in July, amounts to $3,500 being added to his annual $84,000 salary.
• Commissioners approved a contract with Broadview Energy Prime. Broadview is a wind energy company expecting to begin construction on acreage about five miles south of Grady. The contract makes Broadview Energy Prime responsible for repairing any damage to county roads.
• Commissioners heard a presentation from Cannon Air Force Base on its new Installation Complex Enhancement Management Action Plan (ICEMAP). Lt. Col. Anthony Figiera said ICEMAP is a roadmap for cooperation between Cannon and the community. He said Cannon employs more than 5,400 personnel on base and is the largest employer in the region. He also said the defense department has more than $1 billion invested in improvements and expansion at Cannon.
• Maj. Brent Rockow noted that as of last year, Cannon paid $6 million in gross receipts taxes and will pay an estimated $2 million for projects in the next fiscal year.
• Billy reported the jail inmate population was 209. Another 19 inmates are being housed out of county due to lack of segregation facilities at the jail. Billy projects the county spending about $400,000 by the end of the year to house inmates outside the county — about $300,000 less than last fiscal year.

— Compiled by CNJ Content Managing Editor Robin Fornoff