Kokomo — Howard County has proposed entering into a cost-sharing plan with the city of Kokomo to create a second inmate work crew that would work in the city.
Earlier this month, the county commissioners asked if the city would be interested in having an inmate work crew do work in the city.
Commissioner Dave Trine said the county was interested in forming a second inmate work crew, which would consist of seven inmates and a supervisor. Trine said if the city pays for the supervisor, the county will provide a seven-inmate crew and all the equipment.
The proposal indicates the sheriff department will purchase a van for use by a second work crew using misdemeanant funds, and the city would provide the salary and benefits for a supervisor.
Randy Morris, director of operations for Kokomo, said Monday the city is considering the proposal.
“We don’t know if we have enough work to keep a crew busy,” he said.
Larry Murrell, county attorney, said a written agreement would have to be signed by both government entities.
“There is plenty of work to be done,” Sheriff Marty Talbert said Friday.
Talbert said the crew has already done work in the city and the additional work would keep the crews busy.
The work crew would clear debris from alleys, mow grass and perform other jobs.
“There is plenty of work in the city,” Talbert said. “Right now the first priority for the work crew is county buildings and mowing. The county has a number of projects that need to be done and we can’t tie up the crew in the city on a daily basis.”
“The purpose is not to put anyone out of work,” he said. “It would be a supplement to city crews.”
Members of the work crew are screened and certain classes of offenders are not used, he said.
“The inmates like the detail,” he said. “It gets them out of a cell, they’re productive and sometimes we allow them to eat meals away from the jail. There are some benefits attached to being on the work crew.”
Talbert said the crews work year round. During the winter months, they shovel snow from sidewalks around county buildings and have done interior painting.
“We offered the proposal,” he said. “We would be glad to work with the city.”
Trine said Friday the county is currently awaiting a decision by the city.
“A concern is that it would result in city workers being laid off,” he said. “This is something above and beyond what is getting done.”