Sheriff points to advantages of regional jail proposal

Is creating a 2-county regional jail a good move?

Daviess County Sheriff Kevin Heldenbrand thinks so. Thinking both as a taxpayer and as the county’s top law official.

Of course, voters will decide the matter on Nov. 8th when a simple majority casting ballots in the 2-county district will either approve or deny a half-cent sales tax. If approved, tax collections will enable the newly created district to purchase a 250-bed jail facility privately operated by Pam and Ronnie Huston at Pattonsburg, Midwest Security Housing.

The price tag, set at $3.5 million, compares favorably when considering new jail construction at $5.4 million to $8.9 million – estimates which exclude equipment and furnishings for a jail with only 150 beds.

“Buying Midwest Security Housing is a very good deal,” says Sheriff Heldenbrand. “The terms of the purchase agreement were worked out prior to the time that architect estimates on jail alternatives were known. If we were to renegotiate the terms now, or if this approach were to be attempted again later, I doubt if the purchase price would be the same.”

That’s Sheriff Heldenbrand speaking as a taxpayer. He says the idea of creating a regional jail is also a good pocketbook decision for Daviess Countians because of what the sales tax proposal would do – bring back sales tax dollars on business Daviess Countians do outside the county, at such regional trade stores as Wal-Mart in Cameron.

The sales tax is expected to generate approximately $750,000 annually; $500,000 from DeKalb County (including businesses on Cameron’s north side) and $250,000 from Daviess County. The sales tax includes a 15-year sunset clause, meaning sales tax collections would end unless voters choose to renew and continue the tax.

Heldenbrand also supports the regional jail proposal speaking as sheriff. Ownership brings greater control of policies and practices that impact insurance costs while offering operational efficiencies. Sheriff Heldenbrand believes that proper management of the regional jail could mean the initial purchase cost might be recovered in five or six years.

“We use Midwest Security Housing for our county prisoners now, and they have been very good to us,” Sheriff Heldenbrand says. “They’ve made changes whenever we’ve made requests. Daviess County has been very fortunate in this respect since we don’t have our own jail. But still, we have no control on the liabilities concerned.

“In reality, we are governed by our insurance companies. If mistakes are made, lawsuits are filed against everyone involved and especially whomever has the deepest pockets. This means the county is always liable for its prisoners no matter where they are housed. Therefore as sheriff, the proposed regional jail offers more control over our prisoners and contains our liabilities.”

The Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail would operate by a 4-person governing board. Those serving would be each county’s presiding commissioner and each county’s sheriff. Decisions would be made by majority rule, with matters of finance requiring agreement by both presiding commissioners and matters of operation requiring agreement by both sheriffs.

“I’ve been asked if the sheriff’s office will move to the regional jail at Pattonsburg if the sales tax is approved on Nov. 8th,” says Sheriff Heldenbrand. “No, we are not wanting to do that. We want to play a part in managing the regional jail but the county sheriff’s office will remain separate.”

Others ask about personnel changes if the privately operated jail becomes a publicly-owned regional jail. Sheriff Heldenbrand reasserts that such matters become a board decision, “but I personally would anticipate no employee changes for a period of time. Then, if any changes are made, the decisions would be made by the board.”

Operating a regional jail is not about profit. If contracts with other counties to house their prisoners occur as anticipated, the sales tax rate would probably be lowered after the debt is retired. But moving prisoner board expenses to the regional jail district and away from each county’s sheriff’s department should make annual budgets more stable and realistic.

The regional jail also offers some operational efficiencies.

Sheriff Heldenbrand says about 70% of the people picked up for incarceration come from tickets off the 29 miles of interstate bisecting the county. State troopers and county deputies now bring those arrested to the courthouse for booking, then take them to Pattonsburg to be jailed. If the counties own the jail, bookings and other paperwork can be performed at the regional jail, saving expense.

“What many people don’t realize is the many times we go to get prisoners who come by bus for court appearances or to be transferred,” Sheriff Heldenbrand says. “It’s not unusual for us to be waiting with someone from DeKalb County waiting at the bus terminal doing the same thing for their prisoners. A regional jail district would eliminate such unnecessary duplication.”

Presently, both Daviess County and DeKalb County usually average 30 to 40 prisoners each per day. Midwest Security Housing usually houses an inmate population of 230, with 300 prisoners considered maximum capacity.

Midwest Security Housing was built in 2002. There are two separate buildings, a 200-bed jail for male prisoners and a 72-bed facility for female prisoners. The campus also features an improvement providing a secure outdoor recreational area.

The present jail supervisor is Chief Phillip Adams. Staff includes Capt. Angel Enloe and Administrator Major Bob Gray. There are 50 full-time employees and 12 part-time employees.