Ross County — As the commissioners go through end-of-year budget hearings, I caught the sheriff at the end of his on Tuesday, and asked him to summarize his requests.
Ross County Sheriff George Lavender said most his costs have increased. He said since he first took office in 2009, cruisers have doubled in price – partly because he has to buy SUVs instead of sedans.
His personnel are also more expensive, especially in a very competitive market where other departments will offer higher pay. He says he needs funds for well-trained personnel.
Lavender agreed that the Ross County jail is a big issue on two fronts:
He says he needs more staffing to deal with inmates. He has to house people with mental health issues because there is nowhere else to put them, and has drug-addicted inmates, some of which try to sneak in deadly fentanyl.
Physical problems with the jail are the other problem. Lavender said inmates try to escape by digging out concrete block, even reinforced with rebar. His department stopped most of them, but three escapees had to be captured within an hour, one on the roof.
They are now adding steel sheeting to cells so they can’t get to the block walls.
Lavender said the Ross County Jail was jail built for a population of 108, but can safely house 155 depending on the male / female ratio and the issues of the inmates.
He said inmates cost the county $60 a day in-house, but $90 to $100 a day when housed out-of-county. Lavender said they are now down to a population of 140.
At the end of his next four-year term, he would like to be working on a new county jail – with other counties buying in so Ross can rent cells to them.
Hear Lavender in his own words in the below video interview.
