VANCEBURG — Several residents and candidates for the May primary election concerned with jail overcrowding issues turned out Monday for the monthly meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court.

The first two agenda items under new business pertained to the Lewis County Detention Center and recommendations made by the Department of Corrections to help alleviate overcrowding.

DOC Deputy Commissioner Rodney Ballard was scheduled to appear and present the recommendations before the fiscal court, but he was unable to be in attendance Monday morning. Ballard met with several Lewis County officials a few weeks ago and Judge-Executive Steve Applegate and Jailer Tim Underwood relayed much of that meeting to the court during discussion.

“It’s not a fault of anybody,” Applegate said of the overcrowding problem. He went on to say the DOC referred to county detention centers as “dumping grounds” for local police.

“We currently have outgrown our jail on the county side,” Applegate said. “(Ballard) asked us and all other counties in a similar situation to do a feasibility study to see what’s the most economical and feasible solution.”

The “county side” refers to inmates arrested in Lewis County that are awaiting a court hearing. The “state side” houses inmates already found guilty of a crime and sentenced to jail time.

CMW, a company that conducts feasibility studies, has already contacted Applegate about the services it can provide. CMW’s feasibility study would include county and regional general population analysis and 30-year projections, county inmate population analysis and 30-year projections, interviews with county and judicial officials, analysis of surrounding county jail inmate housing needs and bed space, as well as the presentation of three jail options. Those options would include conceptual design options and the estimated cost of construction and operation as well as revenue projections and debt service costs. The study will also determine the estimated annual cost to close the jail and house inmates elsewhere.

CMW would take 10 weeks to complete the study at a cost of $7,000, which could then be put toward a design fee if CMW is chosen as the architect if the project proceeds into the design phase.

A regional jail, which would consolidate two or more county jails into one facility, is also an option to be considered in the study.

“Our jail has no way to grow,” Applegate said. “It’s land-locked and it’s too close to the railroad tracks under new codes.”

Magistrates showed concern for costs and payments on two jail facilities, including the current jail. Applegate said there is an option of converting the current jail into a transition center where inmates are not under constant supervision and allowed out to work as long as they report back.

A lot of the overcrowding problem is with inmates awaiting trial. These inmates typically spends months — some up to two years — between the time they are charged until the time their case goes to trial. Most of these inmates have a very high bond that they cannot pay or have been placed back in jail for some type of bond violation, such as a failed drug test.

County Attorney Clayton “Buddy” Lykins clarified that it’s these inmates creating most of the problem, not those awaiting sentencing.

“Once a person is found guilty, it’s not a long time before they are sentenced,” Lykins said.

Lykins also noted the monitoring program approved at last month’s meeting which allows inmates deemed a low-threat to be released with a global position monitoring unit while they await trial.

“Approving the GPS monitoring program allowed a dozen prisoners to be released in a day but that’s not going to alleviate the problem over time.”

Noting that the problem would “not alleviate itself,” Applegate stressed the importance of conducting the study.

“The DOC says as long as we’re working on finding a solution, they’re not going to hurt us. If we sit idle, then they’re going to sit on us.”

Thomas Massie, a candidate for judge-executive, addressed the court with concerns of considering a regional facility and housing state inmates, as well as the cost of the study.

“Before we spend $7,000 for someone else to conduct this study, shouldn’t we look at it ourselves?” he asked.

Massie went on to say that housing state inmates is not a favorable situation for the county, even though it receives a per diem for housing them, and presented some figures from audit reports.

“We’ve got to get away from the notion we will make money on these state inmates,” Massie said. “According to the state auditor’s report, it cost us more to house state inmates than what we get paid for them.”

The possibility of converting the jail to house Class D inmates was then brought up. With the specifications set by the DOC, Applegate said the cost would be between $400,000 to $500,000 to remodel the current facility. Those specifications allow the jail to be deemed more secure, to house prisoners arrested for various charges, regardless of the severity of the crime.

Sheriff Bill Lewis said that figure was hard to believe for housing low-level county inmates.

“We’re handling their problem for them,” Lewis said. “(The state) would have you build an Ivory Tower out of gold if you listen to them.”

Jailer Underwood attempted to add insight to the situation and also said he felt if more beds became available, they would soon be filled, which doesn’t help in the long run.

“We’re usually number one or two every week, percentage-wise, in the state of facilities that are consistently overcrowded in the last four or five years,” Underwood said.

He told the crowd he’s had several meetings with the DOC in the past and it’s come to a point where the DOC is demanding action.

“(Ballard) is not asking us to do a feasibility study, he’s demanding us,” Underwood said. “He said Lewis County cannot afford to operate a jail.”

One of Underwood’s major concerns if the jail is closed or if inmates are shipped elsewhere, is the loss of the work programs and how it affects local businesses and government agencies. Prisoners on work programs are currently offered the ability to trade a day of jail time for a day of work. The inmates help out at the local food pantry or collect trash for the road department, among other things.

The fiscal court unanimously approved an authorization for Applegate to interview and hire for the performance of a jail feasibility study.

In other business:

– The adoption of currently maintained county cemetery roads into the road maintenance system was tabled until April for more clarification.

– The county will begin advertising for bids for the replacement of a bridge on Manley Hollow Road.

– The court approved the hire of Brian Grierson as the county’s animal control officer. An easement will also be given to Western Lewis Rectorville Water and Gas to replace a water line on Dearing Lane in Tollesboro.

The next regular meeting of the Lewis County Fiscal Court will be held April 12 at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of the old Courthouse.

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