Published: October 01, 2009 10:33 am      

Coalgate City Council upset by sheriff’s request

By Randy Mitchell

Staff Writer



COALGATE — Several Coalgate City Council members were upset during Tuesday’s meeting by Coal County Sheriff Roy Deck’s request for more funds to house city inmates in the county jail.

Deck submitted a letter asking for an increase in the cost of housing city inmates from $24 per day to $50 per day.

Mayor Mike Elkins seemed upset with the request.

“How come it’s went up?” Elkins asked. “What’s he (the sheriff) mad about now?”

City Manager Roger Cosper said $24 a day was too cheap to begin with.

“Are we the only ones paying?” Elkins asked.

“Tupelo doesn’t pay,” Cosper said.

“Well how come Tupelo don’t have to pay?” Elkins asked. “How come it’s went up, I mean what is his reason?”

“Because his (the sheriff’s) costs are going up and they’re still tying to build a new jail,” Cosper replied.

“Well we’re not going to build a new jail for him, I’m sorry,” Elkins said.

In an interview Wednesday, Deck said the city of Tupelo isn’t charged for housing inmates because Tupelo police often answer calls for him in the western part of the county when his deputies are busy.

Tupelo houses one or two inmates a month in the county jail and Deck said he thinks the trade off is worth it. Deck said the cities of Atoka and Stringtown pay $50 per day and don’t have a problem with it.

Cosper said the charge — whether $24 or $50 — is passed on to the inmates through (municipal) fines which he said makes raising rates a non-issue.

“That’s what he is charging everyone else,” Cosper said. “It probably should have been $35 or $40 last year, but he made it $24.”

“Well that was kind,” said Vice-Mayor Muriel Parker.

Cosper said most of the (municipal) costs for housing inmates in the county jail are recovered through the fines.

“We’re not arguing about any other terms,” Cosper said. “I think since he’s bringing us up to paying what everyone else is paying, I don’t see that it’s unfair. I really don’t.”

Council voted not to grant the sheriff’s request with a vote of three votes to two.

Deck said he had the details worked out with other city officials and thought everything was a go. Tuesday’s rejection left him surprised.

All we’re asking for is $2 an hour,” Deck said. “That’s not a whole lot to babysit someone.”

Cosper said he is confident the matter will be worked out between the city and the sheriff.

“There are a couple of things (the council) wants to look into such as, making sure we get reimbursed from the courts whenever we jail someone,” Cosper said. “We’re supposed to be getting reimbursed (for felony arrests) and I don’t think that’s been taking place.”

Cosper said felony arrests become a state matter and the municipality is not responsible financially.

“If we arrest someone for domestic abuse or murder or rape or something like that, those aren’t our prisoners,” Cosper said. “Even though we arrest them, our (municipal) court doesn’t take care of those.”

Deck said he will try to work with the city to resolve the issue.

“That’s exactly what we want to do too,” Cosper said. “I think the council just wants to be prudent.”