Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney Annie Gibson discussed the ongoing criminal investigation at the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail with its board and administration during a meeting held Jan. 27.
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Gibson said people keep asking her why in the world she doesn’t file charges. She wanted to clear up the confusion. She doesn’t have all the paperwork she needs in the way of evidence and probable cause in order to proceed on her end. Her end includes filing charges and preparing a case for trial. It is not the prosecutor’s duty to investigate, she said, that is up to the Daviess and DeKalb county sheriff’s offices. She added that she would do anything in her power to help with the investigation and that she has met with the task force whenever asked to do so. Gibson called the situation at the jail "complex and convoluted." She said she couldn’t do anything until the investigation, which started in June of 2011, is complete. Gibson, the board and the administration agreed to discuss the matter further in closed session.
In other business at Friday’s meeting, the board decided to not make Steve Grant’s Management Letter public due to the ongoing investigation. Grant did a financial study of the jail last fall.
State Auditor Tom Schweich began an audit of DeKalb county in July of 2011. His audit will include the regional jail. It is still in process.
The siren to notify the town of an escape was not tested. The electricity was off briefly as the new generator was being installed.
Sales Tax Account had $79,960 deposited in January with $185,101.91 total. A CD at BTC bank is worth $823,356. The jail has $12,683 in its operating account; and $108 in the payroll account. There is $59,318 in accounts payable. There was $111,390 billed out for January. Of that amount $33,330 went to Daviess County and $26,580 went to DeKalb County. Commissary grossed around $11,790.
A bond account of $686 at BTC Bank was closed and the money deposited in Turnkey.
Livingston County is still interested in housing inmates at Pattonsburg and the jail still has the opportunity to acquire Independence.
The Daviess county commissioners will attend meetings Feb, 1-2-3 and will have a chance to discuss the jail with other commissioners.
Discussion was held on Buchanan county inmates being held at the Pattonsburg jail. Buchanan county will not pay for housing after the three day grace period. It was decided that in the future if the jail receives a call to pick up a prisoner on a Buchanan county warrant, the jail will pick the prisoner up, but take the prisoner to Buchanan county instead of housing the prisoner at the regional jail.
Jessica Flannery with Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance discussed options for insurance coverage with the board. Farm Bureau Insurance is comparable to the insurance the jail now has. Farm Bureau could possibly save the jail money on "over-insured" structures. The board will take her offer into consideration.
Allison made a motion to approve the kitchen vendors. Connie Spiers, the head cook, is positive she has received the lowest bids possible from all her vendors. The jail gets kitchen supplies at "school cost" until May. Vendors stop delivering to the area when school is out. At that time, the jail may have to look at the pricing again.
The jail is presently housing 158 inmates.
Turnkey will arrive at the jail next week to install the video visitation. Prisoners will be able to have visits over the kiosk for a fee.
The board entered into closed session.
Present at the Jan. 27, meeting were Daviess County Sheriff Ben Becerra, Daviess County Commissioner Randy Sims; DeKalb County Sheriff Wes Raines; DeKalb County Commissioner Harold Allison; Jail Administrator Bob Gray; Assistant Administrator Ed Howard; Secretary Norma Crabtree, Gene Walker; Jessica Flannery with Farm Bureau Insurance; Annie Gibson and Robert Mazur.