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Jailer might slam door on Garrard prisoners, but he doesn't want to

July 24, 2008|GEORGE LEWIS

Incarcerating prisoners from Garrard County is pushing the Lincoln County Jail and its staff beyond their capacity, Jailer David Gooch told Lincoln Fiscal Court Tuesday.

"We are at the point now, due to overcrowding, that we probably should no longer house any Garrard County prisoners," Gooch said.

Presenting his quarterly jail report to magistrates, Gooch said he's delaying a decision about Garrard County prisoners "for as long as possible until we can make the decision whether to partner with Garrard County on a new jail project."

He said he is concerned that a decision to stop jailing for Garrard County would "so alienate Garrard County that they would in no way consider partnering with us."

The jailer also called for the disbanding of the current, many-membered jail committee in favor of a smaller one with Garrard County representation.

Another thorn in Gooch's side are the state jail inspections that have consistently given Lincoln County demerits for the condition of its jail. The jail has been operating on extensions granted by the state, but those are running out, Gooch says.

He's got just such an inspection coming soon in which the jail's ventilation system will have to meet standards. Gooch is overhauling his system for that. He told the court that the system appears to be working because it cleared the smoke out from a small fire on the third floor.

Fire is always a worry for Gooch and his staff, but fire is less likely since the jail went smoke-free.

Judge Executive Buckwheat Gilbert thanked Gooch for his report.

In other business, and in deference to Magistrate David Faulkner, absent the court recovering from heart surgery, delayed the first reading of an ordinance that would raise the 911 surcharge to $2.50.

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