 Printer friendly version |
 E-mail to a friend |
Updated Monday, July 13, 2009 10:15 PM
Grayson County Jail to be run by private company
 |
|
Click to enlarge
JERRY WHITELEY / HERALD DEMOCRAT
Grayson County Commissioners Court members Gene Short, David Whitlock, Drue Bynum, Jackie Crisp and Johnny Waldrip listen to a presentation about the future of the Grayson County Jail Monday afternoon.
|
BY JERRIE WHITELEY
HERALD DEMOCRAT
SHERMAN -- Grayson County commissioners decided Monday what they will and won't do for a new county jail. They will enter into a contract with Southwestern Correctional LLC to build a 747-bed jail. The preliminary projected cost of the project was quoted at around $6.6 million.
That contract will require that Southwestern hire current county jailers at their current rate of pay and benefits. Commissioners will also allow Grayson County Sheriff Keith Gary to keep up to 24 officers on his staff to work security for the county and state courts, provide transportation of inmates and perform other duties necessary to run the office. The patrol department within the Sheriff's Office is not included in the jail issue and will remain unchanged.
The preliminary agreement to go forward with negotiations with Southwestern means that commissioners will not consider allowing county voters to decide if they wanted to support a bond issue to fund a county-financed jail.
The decision also put an end, Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum said, to the idea of adding on to the current jail downtown.
Commissioner Gene Short voted against the preliminary agreement and said that he would support the idea of letting the voters decide if they wanted to increase their taxes to finance a new jail. Short came out of the executive session held after the public meeting approximately ten minutes before the rest of the commissioners.
"I have said all I have to say on the matter," Short said when he took his seat. Short has announced he is retiring at the end of his current term in office.
When commissioners Johnny Waldrip, Jackie Crisp and David Whitlock emerged with Bynum, Waldrip made the motion that outlined the preliminary agreement and dashed the hopes of those in the audience who wanted a public vote on renovating the old jail downtown.
One of those people was Sheriff Gary, who had urged commissioners to consider renovating the current jail and seeking a referendum to get the money to do so.
"The best, safest, most economical option is an expansion of the existing jail in downtown Sherman, near the courtrooms it serves. I have reviewed the 2002 plan, and with some updating and modernization it can service our needs. Ironically, it can actually be downsized slightly if you decide that you prefer to limit the number of federal prisoners in our jails as I have been required to do during the last several years," he told commissioners.
He said renovating downtown could be done with a bond election. "That would allow the voice of the people to be heard on what has become a hotly debated issue public issue. I always trust the common sense of Grayson County voters and they will make the correct decision ... if we make the case that it is needed," he said.
Gary was just one of dozens of people who supported and called for a public vote on a bond issue to support a measured addition to the jail downtown. Sherman Mayor Bill Magers was on that list. He asked commissioners to put off the decision and work with the city to see what they could do together to keep what he called an economic engine downtown. Magers said the legal community contributes an estimated $9 million to the Sherman economy every year, and he expressed concern some of that money might go elsewhere if the jail is moved.
Former Grayson County Democratic Party Chair Tony Beaverson asked commissioners to keep their politics out of the decision and allow county residents the right to vote to support a jail with tax money.
Afterward when commissioners announced their decision, Beaverson chided them.
"I can't tell you how disappointed I am .... you are like a boss that says my door is always open, but whose mind is always closed."
Beaverson wasn't the only person expressing concern.
"I am disappointed," Gary said after the meeting, "that they didn't consider the prospect of renovating the old jail."
He said he didn't think commissioners would make a decision on Monday, and was a bit surprised about the quick turnaround after so many people showed up to ask them to consider the downtown option.
However, he said, he was pleased that the commissioners allowed him to keep up to 24 people on his staff at the old jail and agreed to hire on his existing jailers at their current pay and benefits. It was a compromise, he said, that he appreciated.
Bynum acknowledged that the decision didn't make everyone happy.
"This was not an easy day," he said noting that "nothing was going to make everyone happy," as the remainder of the 200 people who had attended the meeting filed out.
However, he said, the compromise reached allowed county jailers to keep their jobs and salary and that, he said, should show them that he and the commissioners value what they do for the county. It will also allow the county to save money and solve a problem that commissioners have wrangled with for years. The solution, he said, should last the county into the next decade or two.
It should also save the county money in the long run, according to Bynum. The deal presented Monday by the Southwestern staff said the county will pay between $32.50 and $46.50 per inmate housed per day, depending upon variables including the percentage of beds filled, income from the jail phone system and other fees and income. It could also depend on the final negotiations between the county and Southwestern.
Southwestern President Billy McConnell said he was optimistic his company might get the green light to go ahead with a deal with Grayson County. He said, he came to Sherman prepared to keep making his case for a partnership either way. He said there are still lots of details to work out about the agreement. Those details will start to firm up within the next month or so and the facility could be open within about 18 months.
The decision might have meant the beginning of the end to a long traveled and winding road for Bynum as his desire to see the county utilize privatization started to come true, but it might not be without cost. Bynum told those who attended the meeting that he would make his decision about the jail matter with the good of the county in mind regardless of what that did to his chances of being elected county judge for a second term.
Shortly after the decision became public, Mark Washburn, one of the people who urged Bynum and the commissioners to consider allowing the public to vote on a bond issue, announced he plans to run against Bynum.
"They have to build a jail, but they should have allowed people a chance to vote on the bonds," Washburn said. "Then if people voted against it, they could have gone ahead (with privatization). They had the authority to do what they did, but I wish they had shown more sensitivity to the voters."
Former Grayson County Commissioner Carol Shea also said she wished the people had been allowed a say in the matter.
"I am disappointed that without the support of the people the commissioners have taken it upon themselves to make a decision for all of the people," Shea said. She said it looks like the people elected by the voters think the voters aren't smart enough to make a decision about something as important as a county jail and that just doesn't seem right to her.
"I wasn't there, but it is my understanding that the people came out and spoke and that everyone who spoke was against it," Shea said.
"This is disappointing," she added.
When addressing the issue of the people who spoke out against privatization, Bynum said that he and the commissioners had to weigh the wishes of the 200 or so people who have said they wanted a public jail and the jail staff who wanted to keep their jobs against the rest of the 118,000 people in the county who needed commissioners to make a decision for them.
 Comments ... 24 found!
Public Welfare : 7/23/2009
Well it seems that a few people have in my opinion over reached and denied the citizens of Grayson County their right to vote on such an important matter. The only reason for this is they already knew the answer would be no. So they took it upon themselves to put a private company on the county payroll. This will increase taxes to the residents of Grayson. Hey, which part of the county services are next? Do you have a business that needs a welfare check? Apply at Grayson County.
Taxpayer without a voice
Voice in the Dark : 7/23/2009
You are completely on TARGET! Where ARE the people who want this? And the Voters are being ignored. BUT I do want to say this... GENE SHORT speaks with 'political' tongue.. out boths sides, and has a way of making it LOOK like he is for the voters. He has done this for years (because he has had years of practice) HE is no different! Yes, we WILL applaud when he goes, and YES, the others need to be replaced! Where are the Party Chairman of the Political Parties? GET CANDIDATES lined up. Mr. Beaverson has been here from the beginning - HE is to be applauded for his dedication to Grayson County..now he is an excellent candidate! I vote for the PERSON and their character and values, Not the party.. WE need a CHANGE!
Got my VOTE
Get over yourself : 7/20/2009
Retired Corrections Officer you're right we don't have all the facts. That is the main reason we the public had no business making this kind of decision. So many people on here act as if they know best when in fact they know very little! I say, if there are so many "smart" people in Sherman that would have done a better job then why haven't you run for office???
Sigh......
Non-Representation : 7/20/2009
While I will not write, or blog about whether or not we need to renovate the old jail, build a new jail or pirvatize the corrections department of GCSO, I feel the bigger picture is being missed. Our rights, voices and wishes as Grayson County citizens, taxpayers and voters, are being completely ignored. Dure Bynum said he needed to wiegh the wishes of 200 people who wanted a public jail...against the 118,000 who needed the commissioners to make a decision for them. Mr. Bynum, there were 200 people at that meeting who want a public jail, most of whom, from what I gather from the article, were willing to leave it in the hands of the voters, to decide what the majority of voters in the county want, not the majority of voter on the county commission want! How many of those 118,000 voters showed up to argue againts a public vote? How many did you and your fellow commissioners personally talk to or hear from, that were against a vote? Was it 200? More? I undrstand that bond elections take up time and costs, but answer this, is our jail situation in such peril that you had to make an immediate decision, with disregard to whe wishes of those who were interested enough to come to you and have their voices heard, only to have them ignored? What really prompted the move to make the decision swiftly without public hearing or bond election? If those 118,000 people wanted you to do this, they should have been at the meeting, but they weren't! I applaud Gene Short for his comments. We may or may not aggree with his stanse on the jail issue, but we should aall appluad him for taking a stand against the commisioners court in favor of hearing the voice of the public. Maybe the other 4 commissioners should be replaced, when Mr Short retires!
A Voice in the Dark
: 7/18/2009
Mr Washburn... you already have a LOT of votes! Bynum is so stuck on himself.. it is his way or nothing! All of them are the boss with an open door and a closed mind. They allow you to speak, but their mind is made up! Gene Short always makes it look like he is on the voters side, but does otherwise when it is time to vote. He also speaks with a political tongue!
Need More to Announce!
Inpeachment : 7/17/2009
I am all for doing away with the hole commissioners and thier leader. The tax payers have carried the loss of money for this study and that study. Then in the end our opinon doesn't matter.We took a big hit on MD Helocopter and BlackHawk.I wonder what deals are being made behind clossed doors.I wouldn't be worried about getting voted out of office either with some of the deals that have probilly been made behind those closed doors. People say that the public did't know all the facts. Thats what the commissioners want (keep them ignorate) and the voters want say nothing. We may not beable to inpeach but,we can sure vote all them out.
D.Anderson
Jail : 7/16/2009
Shermanite is wrong regarding the number of prisoners being held in the Grayson County Jail. The jail is not holding 40 out of county prisoners in fact none. The jail is required to hold up to 35 federal prisoners because the county accepted almost one million dollars from the federal government. Also there is a thing called "peaking" which means at times the number could be 375 to 400 prisoners. The 335 prisoners Shermanite mentions was simply a snapshot of who was in the jail when the form was filled out. 30 minutes later it could have been 350 if an influx of prisoners was brought in. The Jail Commission for Texas monitors numbers daily. The problem with Grayson County is a shortage of maximum security cells not minimum where there is sometimes 50 empty beds. The Jail Commission makes you classify inmates within 48 hours of arrival at the jail and you cannot mix minimum and maximum prisoners. Please get all the facts before you write.
Retired Corrections Officer
Another Sham : 7/16/2009
One problem about this commission making the decision for the people of Grayson County, they are being denied the oppurtunity to vote for what they want. This totally contradicts our democratic system that the GC residents are being robbed of. Another problem seems to be an illegal decision by this commission is collusion!!!! Someone must be lining there pockets, or maybe there is a conflict of interest by this commission not serving the Grayson County residents, they must think that most of them are just simple country folk who are not intelligent enough to decide what is best for there county and community!!!!
This commission is a Farce.
Jail Decision : 7/16/2009
On June 1st, there were 335 prisoners in the Grayson County jail (Commission on Jail Standards most recent data). If you back out the 40 contract prisoners from other counties and the 38 federal prisoners reported, you're left with a total population of "local" prisoners of 257, which is 59% capacity. From another perspective, of the total 335 prisoners in custody on June 1st, 51% were in "pre-trial" status. These are the prisoners who are awaiting trial but are living off of us in the meantime. With a little thinking, this number could be reduced. I'd suggest we don't need a new jail as much as we need this one managed on a more rational basis. Where was the "Jail Management Advisory Committee," formed with the best private sector management talent in the community? The application of a little intelligence could have prolonged the useful life of this facility and saved a bunch of money. If the commissioners court was so all-fired interested in privatizing something, maybe they could have begun with the basic management process? That would have been free. Of course, not allowing the people of Grayson County to vote on this decision was to be absolutely expected. The majority of the commissioners court simply doesn't trust the voters. I'm sure that they are right not to trust us; I can't begin to believe we'd support them in this. The notion that the court is qualified to represent the "other 118,000" and ignore the 200 is simply the arrogance of youth and fear of the people. At least MD Helicopters and Black Knight went away without costing too much money, but I think this one is going to hurt. The only commissioner to act with integrity in this was Gene Short. He realizes that the basis of good government is intelligently allowing the people to make the decisions ... especially the big ones. He's been a rock and he'll be missed. He should hang around and run for county judge. A politician can tell voters just about anything he or she wishes to ... except that the voter is not relevant. So I guess we'll be getting some new guys.
Shermanite
Jail : 7/15/2009
I believe the older portion of the jail is much older than 15 years as someone else prevously stated. I think it was built in the early 1980's Perhaps the additions were added 15 years ago. Unless you have ever worked in there or been confined you have no idea what the condition is and how the facility itself contributes to the inefficiency of the entire operation. It is true that our government is a representative republic, not a direct democracy. We elect officials to make decisions and do the will of the people. When the elected fail to do as the electorate wish then come election day they get voted out. This commissoners court was elected. If they displease those they are sworn to serve then the same majority that voted them in can give them the boot. That doesn't un-do things set in motion already. Isn't it ironic that at the federal level the government wants to take over finance, insurance, mfg, and health care and the county wants to privatize a basic public responsibility? What if it were possible to simply contract out everything the county was responsible for? We wouldn't need need any county employees. The commissioners could negotiate contracts then tax the citizens to cover the bills. I'm not so sure what service we're getting out of the county anyway.
SG Webb, Whitesboro
Total BS : 7/15/2009
This jail situation is the same as with most public schools. They cry and beg for 'support' to build a new school (or jail in this case) that is superior and will LAST FOREVER!! Then, in a few short years, it's a piece of crap, falling apart, cannot be maintained, old technology, etc. Do these people really have to wonder why the public is so down on them?? Use your head elected officials!! Make good on a promise once in a while and enjoy a little support. As far as taxes, the last comment is correct: the federal government has that covered. The wreckless way that Obama is spending money, we will all be in the poor house soon, except for Obama and his elite, tax-evading, non-qualified appointees who are clearly a notch above the rest of us........yeah, OK.....
Worried
Grayson County Prison : 7/15/2009
I do know one thing. The officers that will work in the new Grayson County Prison will have to hold both county jailers license and TDC license. The state of texas will no longer house their inmates in county jails. Judge Bynum said it himself that Southwest will have to search the COUNTRY for inmates. Overcrowded gang prisons in california?? Gitmo detainees?? Maybe Charlie Manson is looking for a move?? AND THEN... the families will follow. Judge Bynum just opened the doors to grayson county to gather the unwanted trash of America!!!
Loading my Guns!!
Fiscally Responsible : 7/14/2009
The jail and first study was commissioned over 9yrs ago. Since that time no one and no group has taken the initiative to propose a solution. Tax dollars have been wasted year after year to try to maintain a facility falling apart. Sheriff dept has stated that since the facility is disjointed from numerous remodels it cost additional manpower to operate effectively. We want to band-aid and fly in the face of the consulting groups findings that both the court and Sheriff dept’s have had tax dollars paid to provide? We have now had a group we elected act on these many paid reports. Solution we pay for a facility that gets financed at a rate lower than the county can obtain. We give them in return the contract for 5 years while stipulating EVERY displaced jailer/deputy get SAME wage and benefits they currently have. We get a fixed lower cost to house inmates for this same period. Oh and don’t forget our taxes don’t go up as a result. If you want a tax increase get your check book ready Federal govt is coming for it.
Attended Court
: 7/14/2009
I have put the numbers thru the calculator, and according to my estimate if we have 300 inmates in that jail for a year, at $41.00 per day per inmate, it will cost the tax payers of Grayson County an estimated $ 4,489,500.00 per year. Mr. Bynum, I believe that our taxes will go up. This issue needs to be put to a vote. The people of Grayson County have a right to decide on this matter!
D.B. Denison, TX
Grayson County Jail : 7/14/2009
I'm dissapointed in all of the tax payers (me included). We just let ourselves get taken for yet another ride. If our elected officials couldn't take care of the brand new jail we built for them several years ago we should have replaced them when it first became obvious they couldn't do their job. The jail was built to serve Grayson County, not the State or Federals. I suppose an arguement could be made that we need a citizens oversite group to just keep everyone informed about the success or failure of elected officials. Obviously everyone can't be pleased, however, surely the ratio of success would be better than 200 yea's to 118,000 nay's.
Jimmy
Hope y'all have a deep seat and your rowels locked : 7/14/2009
Well, the new jail we built 15 years ago was supposed to be of a "modular" design which could easily be expanded. ?????? ........... And, I thought just last week the county judge declared "July 13th isn't a magical date". Well, given what I read here, it appears to be mighty dang "magical" if by this term you mean, cast in concrete. ??????????? ........... I simply hope the county judge and all the commissioners lined up behind him keep in mind, a long time Grayson County Sheriff lost his job in the election following that jail, in large part I figure because he was pushed for a far more expensive solution. ........ If the "private solution" winds up not costing the county millions, then those who supported it will be the windshield. Otherwise, they may find themselves emulating the bug.
Long Time Grayson Resident
Privatization : 7/14/2009
Do the commissioner's remember a previous attempt at privatising? The Edison Project at Washington Elementary School?
EVP4B
Not awake : 7/14/2009
Sorry Jeff, but you are definitely not awake. You are confusing the issue. It is not about residents of Grayson knowing how to or wanting to run a county, but we as voters do have a right to vote on such a large issue as this one. This is not a republic, its not a democracy, it is one mans dictatorship and we have just been dictated to as to what kind of facility we will have. Thank's Drue "can't be gone soon enough" Bynum for your confidence in the voters and taxpayers.
Robert
Economic Growth : 7/14/2009
Way to go Commissioner's! Now we will have one more way to attract new business and promote economic growth to Grayson County!
Moving to Collin County
Awake : 7/14/2009
I am wide awake. The professional studies done on this have all pointed to the need for a new jail. I have a family member who used to work for the Sheriff's office and I have seen the jail - it is in BAD shape. I don't see how it could be financially responsible to try and refurbish the current facility and the studies agree. I suppose it would be nice to vote on every issue, but what in the world do most citizens know about running a county? To be informed, every citizen would have to read all of the studies and be up to date on all the information. Most people don't care enough and/or are not equipped to make such decisions.
Jeff
Wake up Jeff : 7/14/2009
Yes, we elected the commissioners to REPRESENT us, not railroad us. We wanted a vote, they decided that they didn't want to give us that option. If this issue had gone to a vote and the VOTERS decided they wanted a privitized jail, then the decision would have been one by the people & for the people. I just wanted a vote....as did many others here in GC.
GC Voter
Not Appalled : 7/14/2009
I don't understand why people are so upset over this. The commissioners are elected to represent the people and make decisions for the county. There is no "betrayal" of the people and it is not "elite" for commissioners to make decisions. We can't vote on every major issue that comes up. That's why we elect people to represent us. Our government is a republic, not a democracy (at least not a pure democracy).
Jeff
: 7/14/2009
"...Bynum said that he and the commissioners had to weigh the wishes of the 200 or so people who have said they wanted a public jail and the jail staff who wanted to keep their jobs against the rest of the 118,000 people in the county who needed commissioners to make a decision for them." What egotism! The people of Grayson County don't need Bynum to "make a decision for them." Are the voters of Grayson County not smart enough to understand the issue at hand? Or could it be that someone is getting a little compensation for pushing the decision through without a vote...
Bynum needs to go
Appalled : 7/14/2009
"Bynum said that he and the commissioners had to weigh the wishes of the 200 or so people who have said they wanted a public jail and the jail staff who wanted to keep their jobs against the rest of the 118,000 people in the county who needed commissioners to make a decision for them." Bynum didn't want the voters to make the decision....had he put it to a vote, "the rest of the 118,000 people" who cared about the issue would have been given a chance to make their choice....not all of us can make a late-changed, mid-day meeting during the regular work week to voice our opinions. How elite of you Bynum and Commissioners to think that you NEED to make a decision of this magnitude for the voters of Grayson County. You KNEW what the citizens wanted and snubbed every one of us. This will be remembered.
GC Voter
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of the authors. Heralddemocrat.com does not guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.
Comments do not display immediately due to manual review. Comments are reviewed periodically throughout the day. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
|
|
|
| 
LOCAL AND WIRE 
RSS Feeds 