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Inmate Workforce Program in progress

Delta County Sheriff's Deputy Zach Stewart oversees inmates helping beautify the city by hauling off fallen tree branches last year.
Cindy Roller
/
Cooper Review

Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith approached the Commissioners Court for a second time seeking approval for the inmate workforce program and a jailer to oversee it. After a lengthy discussion Commissioners Rip Templeton, Gary Anderson and Loyd Vandygriff accepted the item while Commissioner Mark Brantley showed his opposition for it. Sheriff Smith provided an update on this program in other surrounding counties after it had been tabled two weeks ago.

Sheriff Smith said in this case each of the precincts along with the city will each have alternating weeks of work from this program instead of just when he has availability of staff which is rare.

Delta County Judge Jason Murray agreed it was in the best interest of the county and stated the City of Cooper was in favor and would likely agree to participate (as well as funding putting it to vote on the City’s February agenda).

It was proposed by Commissioner Anderson to have Constable Ben Snow function as the jailer (supervisor over the inmates). Constable Snow commented replying, “It is not my job.”

Treasurer Bonnie Hobbs advised of the funds remaining in the contingency funds.

“This is one of the tightest budgets in four years,” cautioned Hobbs, the funds could be transferred from the County’s money market. “Where will the money come from next year? …I just don’t want to go back to old ways of borrowing.”

Judge Murray injected his input by considering this $20,000 to better Delta County. “If we can’t find this, then we have bigger problems that this… we can’t be consistently worrying about six months from now.” The total cost for the remainder of this year will be $22,564 (before the contribution from the City). Commissioner Templeton moved to amend the budget to take money from the money market to allow the Sheriff to hire a jailer (at cost of $18,051 to the county). It was seconded by Commissioner Vandygriff.

Sheriff Smith continued with a jail report informing the current population is at 15. He is also in the process of seeking more grants to help update dashboard and body cameras. Commissioner Vandygriff complimented the deputies on their work. Sheriff Smith also received unanimous acceptance to update a current grant to have Judge Murray’s signature.   

Treasurer Hobbs gave a financial report from last December.

As reported in a separate story, in a 3-1 vote approved to put the local option for legal sale of beer and wine off-premise consumption only on the May 9, 2015 ballot.

Accepted into record was the six hours of training by Commissioner Brantley through AgriLife Extension.

Judge Murray informed the Court the County was awarded $8,702 by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, commending the County on the previous work.

Commissioners also approved prior meeting minutes before adjourning just after 10 a.m. The Commissioners will meet again on Monday, Feb. 9 at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Delta County Courthouse.

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