Cleveland County Commissioners voted to extend the county-wide burn ban for another week at Monday's meeting. Chairman Rod Cleveland said Slaughterville and Noble had requested they continue the ban.
Sheriff Joseph Lester reported an average of 230 prisoners in the Cleveland County Detention Center March 3-10. Lester said the numbers are up and will continue to go up because of the economy and temporary solutions will need to be addressed.
Jail populations are up all over the state, Lester said.
A few early suggestions, Lester said, are for out of state prisoners to go back to their state, have DOC pick up their prisoners sooner and witnesses and other prisoners here on writ, go back within 24 hours.
Because of financial situations, those who can't pay their fines have arrest warrants issued, Lester said. Work release and other options may be worked out with them.
There also is a former training room on the second floor of the jail that may be turned into additional jail cells, Lester said.
After the meeting, undersheriff Rhett Burnett said the room is now being used for storage and they would like for the state jail inspector to see if that may be turned into a usable bay where additional inmates may be housed.
"Sheriff Lester is looking at any possible way to make this facility work until the new jail is built," Burnett said.
In other jail business, a medical contract with Sooner Medical Staffing LLC was renewed for April 1-June 30 at a cost of $122,500.
In other county business, commissioners:
· Awarded Warren Cat, low bidder, for a 2009 crawler/dozer at $149,688.
· Awarded wrecker services for the sheriff to Adams Towing for $20, zones 1 and 2, and zones 3 and 4 Quality Towing, $15.
· Approved the resolution with the FDIC on county investment policies.
· Renewed a contract for alternatives to detention and transportation between the commissioners and the state of Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs.
· Approved the interlocal agreement with the City of Norman for road and utility improvements necessary for the new detention facility.
· Accepted the sales tax resolution authorizing the tax commission to administer and enforce the one-fourth county sales tax that goes into effect April 1.
· Appointed David Batton to access the tax commission reports.
· Appointed Cleveland and commissioner Rusty Sullivan as voting members and Denise Ellison as an alternate for the Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments.
Cleveland introduced his children, Corbin, Kenady and Quinn who were "watching county government in action" during spring break along with his wife, Christine.
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