The Walker County Commission approved a resolution Monday to allow Sheriff Nick Smith to take charge of food service at the Walker County Jail.
Smith said the county currently pays $30,000 per month to feed its inmates. He said the current contract costs $6 per day, per inmate.
“That is what we are paying on the current contract, but we can take over the kitchen and do it for $15,000 or less,” Smith told commissioners. “And we can provide better quality food at that price.”
County attorney Richard Fikes said under the statute the funds, which are currently coming from the General Fund and bid out, would go directly to the sheriff’s office, and the sheriff would maintain those funds.
“By transfering the funds to the sheriff and him maintaining those funds, the sheriff does not have to bid out those contracts, according to state law,” Fikes said.
Smith said that would allow him to not be locked into a contract, ultimately saving the county $200,000 or more per year.
“We talked about this at a work session,” District 1 Commissioner Keith Davis said. “That’s a significant amount of money to be saved, and it could be more.”
District 3 Commissioner Jim Borden asked Smith if he would need to hire more help. Smith said that would not be the case.
“It will be done the same as it currently is being done. We are just cutting out the middle man, which is the current contract to provide the food,” Smith said. “They use inmates to cook the food and serve the food every day. We will continue to use the inmates. They will just be supervised by one of our staff.”
The only additional cost is $350 per month for a nutritionist to approve the menus, Smith added.
Commission Chairman Steve Miller said the county is reimbursed $2.25 per inmate, per day for food by the state. Smith said he expects costs to be just under that reimbursement amount.
“I want to be clear that we are not going to be serving less quality food,” Smith said. “I am very pleased with the menu. The inmates have had a chance to look at the menus. I think they are very excited about what’s to come.”
Smith said he had provide commissioners with copies of the October menu. He gave an example of the meals, referring to the first breakfast, saying it would be three pancakes, syrup and grits.
“It won’t be the mystery mash they get now,” he added.
Commissioners also approved a resolution to seek emergency reimbursement funding from the state to start up the inmate feeding by the sheriff. The amount is not known yet. County administrator Robbie Dickerson said when the first invoice is turned in, that is what will be turned into the state.
Smith said the plan is for the sheriff’s office to take over the kitchen on Oct. 1.
“We are ready to go. Just waiting on some of the equipment (stoves and other items) to arrive,” he said.
