PRINCETON — Gibson County Commissioner Steve Bottoms told the county's fiscal body Tuesday that the Gibson County Jail's continuing problems with overcrowding and understaffing could pose a bigger problem in maintaining insurance.
Bottoms reported that the broker/underwriter for the county's insurance program is requiring a written response regarding how the county plans to address citations in the most recent Indiana Department of Correction inspection in May.
The DOC again cited the jail for insufficient lighting, overcrowding and understaffing. Last year the sheriff and county commissioners were required to respond to the citation within 180 days with a plan of action.
Sheriff Tim Bottoms reported Tuesday that the average jail census for July was 128 inmates, and the average work release center census for July was 38 inmates.
He also presented a copy of the inspection report to the council, noting that the July jail census is about 34 people over the recommended DOC census for the jail.
The county has added two jailers and has conducted a study of the jail, and is addressing the lighting issues. Commissioner Bottoms said even if the council funds four jailer positions this year, the county is still seven people short of the DOC staffing standard for the jail.
"I want to express my fear that, while the insurance broker has not threatened it, if we lose our carrier, our insurance would go on the open market. And if we go to the open market, the cost could be 50 percent higher," he said.
The commissioner reminded council members that they talked last year about adding four jailers but have only added two so far. They've talked about adding two more, but the jail would still be short-staffed, according to DOC.
"We could be paying a lot more money for insurance," the commissioner warned council members. "That's why I'm asking that we add more jailers. We need more jailers. I don't want to pay more for insurance when it doesn't solve anything...I'm really getting nervous," he told them.
"We're not in the mood right now to come up with any additional funds," councilman Bill McConnell replied, after discussing the status of legislation regarding bail bond and how he hopes that can solve some of the jail crowding problems.
"I want to move forward with the goal of compliance, just not a jump of seven people," said Gibson County Council President Jay Riley.
Councilman Craig Pflug agreed that the county is showing a good faith effort of working toward the goal to become compliant. "I will follow what the sheriff put in the budget, for an addition of two more jailers," he said.
"This is a new trigger, you've got a new inspection," the commissioner told council members.
"Tell them (the Department of Correction) to stop sending us any additional prisoners," McConnell said. "...you're just wasting our time right now."