Local News The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF) Work-release future in question When Crittenden Fiscal Court meets in regular session during July, it will begin dealing with an issue that will linger for the remainder of the year and into 2010. Magistrates will be considering whether to continue the work release program at Crittenden County Detention Center.
Judge-Executive Fred Brown braced magistrates for a scenario that might lead to the discontinuation of the popular work release program, which provides thousands of hours of labor for public works projects such as mowing, road repairs and general maintenance at places like the courthouse, park and other public buildings.
"I don't know what we would have done at the road department without inmate labor to help clean up after the ice storm," Brown said.
The $7.7 million jail opened in early 2008 and has been operated at a deficit since day one. That's nothing completely unexpected; however. Magistrates knew it would probably not break even. What they wanted was to curb increasingly rising spending for the previous 20-bed life-safety jail at which the county threw about $300,000 annually.
"Stop the bleeding," was a term used over and over by county officials as they examined the idea of building a modern 133-bed jail. Crunching the numbers a little more than one year into the big jail business, it looks like something will have to give in order to balance the budget starting in 2010.
In its first year of operation, $250,000 in coal severance funds helped make ends meet. During the budgetary cycle that begins next week, the county will rely on $350,000 in one-time assistance from the City of Marion to keep the jail from operating in the red.
The question is where will that kind of money come from in the 2010-11 fiscal year.
Judge Brown told magistrates last week that the work release program is a major expense in the jail's $1.9 million budget. Between salaries for extra guards, administration and equipment, Brown indicated that the cost-savings would be substantial if the program was discontinued.
However, he pointed out that the community reaps varied and great rewards because of the program. Inmates mow the grass at the courthouse, park, Dam 50 Recreation Area, Marion Ed-Tech Center, Senior Citizens Center and more. Based on hours worked at the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour, inmates provide about $10,000 a week in community labor. That comes to just over a half million dollars a year.
Coincidentally, that's about how much money it will take to balance the jail's budget. Sue Padget, the county treasurer, said about $150,000 will be or will have been transfered to the jail from the county's other operating funds when the fiscal year ends June. 30.
That means the jail operated at a $400,000 deficit in its first year. The budget has been balanced with the county's $150,000 supplement and that $250,000 in coal severance funds. The city's contribution should help provide black ink in the coming fiscal year, but beyond that there's no indication from where the stop-gap money will come. That's what has county officials scrambling a year in advance for answers.
"We don't want to wait until the last minute to deal with this issue," Brown said. "We will talk about this at the July court meeting. We will have the best figures available and starting trying to decide how we're going to handle it."
Brown said of the more than 40 employees at the jail, almost half are needed to facilitate the work release program. Trimming the payroll by 18 deputies would save around $317,000.
County officials, including Jailer Rick Riley, will be poring over the numbers in the coming weeks and months, seeking an answer to the question of whether it's feasible and/or fiscally responsible to continue letting inmates out during the day for community work.
Road department gets new foreman There will be a passing of the torch next week at the Crittenden County Road Department.
Foreman and longtime road department worker B.R. Kirk, 67, is retiring. His replacement is 38-year-old Tony Jackson, the youngest employee on the 11-person road department staff.
Kirk has worked on the county road crew for 21 years. When he first signed on, Kirk said there was very little equipment, other than several shovels.
"We had a bobtail dump truck, two road graders and a pickup truck," Kirk said. "I've seen a big improvement in the roads during my time here."
Judge-Executive Fred Brown said the county road department consisted of four employees when Kirk first joined the crew. Now, with almost a dozen employees and sometimes as many inmate laborers, the department is much stronger.
An inventory of the equipment shows how much more sophisticated the operation has become. There are graders, four dump trucks, backhoes, rollers, mowers, four tractors, a chipper and road patching machine. Most of the vehicles have air conditioning, a big change from when he first started, Kirk said.
The department maintains 365 miles of road in the county. Most of them are chip and seal or blacktop. About 20 percent of the county's roads are still gravel.
Jackson, who graduated from Crittenden County High School in 1988, will head up the department which has an average age of about 60. Jackson started on the road crew 10 yeas ago as a laborer and has worked his way up.
City asks for limited water use The City of Marion has issued a voluntary conservation order on water usage based on weather forecasts and trends over the past few years.
City Administrator Mark Bryant said the city has not restricted water use over the past three years and drought or near drought conditions threatened the water supplies each year.
"We just want to be more proactive this year," Bryant said. "We're okay right now. The water level at Lake George is normal to slightly above normal, but based on experience we know that can change rapidly."
Starting today (Thursday) city residents who have odd numbered addresses may use water for non-essential purposes such as washing vehicles, filling pools or watering plants or lawns. Residents living at even numbered addresses may use water for such purposes starting Friday. The procedure should continue until further notice with odd numbered addresses using water on odd numbered days and even numbered addresses using it even numbered days.
Marion draws its raw water from Lake George on the south side of the city and treats it at its water plant before distributing it. Facing a forecast of higher than normal temperatures and no chance of rain in sight, Bryant says its prudent to start cutting back now before a problem actually manifests. By alternating days of usage throughout town, Bryant says residents become aware that conservation is necessary and naturally they start using less.
"It's an awareness issue as much as anything," Bryant said. "It draws attention to the fact that we're having water issues."