Monroe County Judge/Executive Tommy Willett appointed six individuals to a committee to study the feasibility of keeping the Monroe County Jail open at last Thursday night’s regularly scheduled meeting of Monroe Fiscal Court.

Willett asked Jailer Doyle Fox for an update on new mandates for county jails handed down by the Kentucky Department of Corrections. Fox told the group that the Monroe County Jail is currently in non-compliance due to a new law which states that all jails with fewer than 81 beds must now have two full-time Deputy Jailers on duty 24 hours per day, not counting communications officers.

Fox explained to the group that he currently keeps one full-time deputy jailer on duty along with a communications officer, and that failure to comply with the new mandate will result in the Department of Corrections permanently closing the jail.

Several full and part-time employees were present at the meeting to express their opinions and concerns, including transportation and housing costs, explaining that Barren County will charge $28 per prisoner per day; but that Monroe County will be responsible for transporting prisoners for any reasons, including medical.

A chief concern expressed by Magistrates Mitchell Page and Ricky Bartley is that when sheriff’s deputies are forced to transport prisoners to jail, it leaves a “shorthanded” situation where law enforcement is concerned. Page explained that as an elected official it was his responsibility to “look out” for citizens of the county, and he felt that if law enforcement officers were tied up moving prisoners between counties it would seriously slow response time for deputies to respond to any type of call, especially emergency calls. He told court members that he would never vote to close the jail.

Part time Deputy Jailer Bobby Richardson asked court members how they, as elected officials, were going to answer for sending Monroe County tax dollars to other counties. Willett responded by saying, “If we can’t afford it, we have no choice.”

Willett went on to say that the new mandate will cost the county government $60,000 per year in salary expenses, and 36 jails have already been closed around Kentucky due to the new rules. Page responded that there are three or four programs that the court oversees currently that could be cut to help fund the jail.

The individuals appointed to serve on the committee are Tommy Willett, Sheryl Conkin, Mitchell Page, Jill Nixon and County Attorney Wes Stephens. They were asked to report back to the court in 30 days about their findings.

Willett also addressed the group concerning the Monroe County School District assuming all responsibilities for the Family Wellness Center, telling the court that “it’s a great opportunity to enhance services at the Family Wellness Center; it’s a win-win situation.” He also addressed rumors that if the FWC changed hands it would result in closure to memberships, which he said “is absolutely not true. This transfer will result in an increase in memberships and enhancement of services–no programs or facilities will need to be shut down.”

County Attorney Wes Stephens explained that with the current financial situation at the FWC, it can no longer function as a full service facility and that the county would have to close the pool in order to keep the rest of the services going. “It would be a disgrace to lose the Family Wellness Center,” said Magistrate Roger Deckard.

Court members voted unanimously to pursue the transfer, agreeing to hold a special called session once all the paper work is prepared for the transfer.

Court members also discussed the appointment of a new library board member after concerns about the way the board had handled recent tax issues were raised. Willett told the group that Carrie Rhoton had resigned from the library board and that two names had been submitted for consideration.

Magistrate Page then reminded the court that the library board was the only board that increased taxes without asking the court in advance. “They didn’t have to get our approval,” Page said, “but it would have been nice if they would have at least let us know by common courtesy like the ambulance board did.”

The court members then appointed newly-elected magistrate Karen Gordon to the board to help oversee the county’s interests and represent the county at library board meetings.