County commission seeks new hope for old contract

The Cape Girardeau County Commission outlined options Thursday that could enable the county to resume a canceled contract with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal prisoners.

The commission discussed hiring one or two part-time officers to handle the duties of transporting the prisoners, which would free up a full-time position to be transferred to the communications department.

Sheriff John Jordan canceled the agreement, effective next month, contending that he doesn't have enough deputies to maintain security in the jail, opening up himself and the county to lawsuits.

Jordan says he was having to remove an officer from jail duty to transport prisoners, making the jail unsafe.

The commission has denied Jordan's request to hire an additional deputy to handle the transportation.

If not reversed, the sheriff's decision to cancel the contract could cost the county around $130,000 in federal reimbursements over a year's time.

Jordan also has told the commission that hiring a communications officer is an even higher priority than hiring a transportation officer. He did not attend the meeting and did not return messages left at his office Thursday.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones suggested hiring a part-time officer to fill the transportation position. He said the part-timer's entire salary could be paid for with U.S. Marshals reimbursements.

Commissioner Joe Gambill piggybacked on that idea by suggesting that two part-time positions be paid for with federal funds, freeing up the full-time position for the communications department.

There was also some discussion about seeking 911 funds to pay the salary for a communications officer.

"To me, the best deal would be to hire two part-timers and let 911 pay for the dispatcher," Gambill said.

The commission did not act on any of the sheriff department's staffing questions Thursday. Commissioners want the 911 advisory board to look into the legality or feasibility of 911 revenue funding a dispatcher. The 911 funds come from a tariff attached to telephone bills.

David Hitt, the county's emergency management coordinator, said that idea had been broached before, but he said he didn't want to comment until he was officially contacted by the commission.

Bill Pippin, the 911 coordinator in Stoddard County and also the first vice president for the Missouri National Emergency Number Association, said that county's central dispatch has five dispatchers. But 911 revenue pays for only 1 1/2 dispatchers because the dispatchers spend much of their day doing clerical work for the ambulance service.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635

COMMISSION ACTION

The Cape Girardeau County Commission took the following action Thursday at its regular meeting:

Reappointed Ruth Ann Dickerson, Donna Burk, Pauline Fox and Stanley Downs to the Domestic Violence Board.

Approved a new secretary, Angela Dixon, for the prosecuting attorney's office.

Approved $7,125 to be paid for Missouri Association of Counties dues.