Lauren Estes-Velez, Hartselle Enquirer

DECATUR — The Morgan County Commission voted to table the request of Sheriff Ana Franklin to add staff to her recently-finished jail in downtown Decatur.

Chairman Ray Long said when the jail was completed, the commission approved the hiring of 23 jailers to support the current numbers of inmates, but for now they are tabling this request until they can see numbers displaying the need to hire 19 more employees.

“Right now the jail has 61 federal inmates, and I think that’s where the number is being affected and why the sheriff thinks they need additional help,” Long said. “Right now we have about one jailer per five inmates. Most places have one jailer for 8-10 inmates.

“We’re just going to have to look at this to make sure it’s something they need and we can afford.”

Long said the cost to hire the additional 19 jailers would cost around $800,000 per year.

“They’re currently housing about 600 inmates, which includes the federal inmates, the ones that they are holding from Decatur and their own inmates,” Long said. “We will run the numbers and discuss it among the commissioners.”

Long said he thinks they will have decision by or during the next commission meeting.

Franklin did not return calls made by the Hartselle Enquirer before press deadline.

In other business the commission:

• Considered the recommendation of the Personnel Review Board in the matter of Steven Shipley.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the chairman to advertise for bids for two washers and dryers for the jail.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the chairman to advertise for bids for a truck for District 3 and to authorize the District 3 commissioner to trade in two other trucks as partial payment; any additional funds needed are to be paid out of District 3 Road and Bridge funds.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the chairman to reappoint Billy Rhodes to the Rural Morgan County Industrial Development Board for a six-year term, ending Sept. 10, 2023.
• Authorized the refund of sales tax for Summerford Nursing Home, because of overpayment ($8,188.83).
• Authorized a refund of $100 to First Christian Church in Valhermosa Springs for incorrect billing from February 2017 through September 2017 for Morgan County Sanitation Services.
• Authorized a refund of $168.75 to Reba Irons for incorrect billing from August 2016 through October 2017 for Morgan County Sanitation Services.
• Adopted a resolution amending the disbursements for September 2017, totaling $5,122,531.10.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing disbursements for October 2017, totaling $4,149,934.65.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing the appropriate elected official/department head to fill the following positions: personal property appraiser I, full-time assessment clerk and part-time assessment clerk.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing budget amendments for September 2017.
• Adopted a resolution approving certificate to subdivide several properties located within Morgan County.