NP County increases jail staff

Commissioners unanimously approved a request Wednesday to add three detention center deputies to the Nez Perce County Jail staff.

The decision came about a month after Nez Perce County Sheriff's Capt. Steve Lutes, the jail commander, and sheriff's Lt. Jack McGee submitted a staffing proposal to Nez Perce County commissioners. The proposal outlined an immediate need for three additional deputies, with potentially three more to be added in fiscal year 2014.

Nez Perce County Clerk-

Auditor Patty O. Weeks said she has determined the county's justice fund can pay for the extra staff for the rest of fiscal year 2013. It will cost about $80,000 for the three staff members, with $17,000 of that covered by money previously allocated for a new sheriff's vehicle. She said additional revenue sources will need to be explored, however.

"The fund balance can take the hit; it just puts us in a weaker position starting in fiscal year 2014," Weeks said.

Lutes and Nez Perce County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Scot Gleason had hoped some money for the staff members could come from an unfilled position that had gone unnoticed until two months ago, but Weeks said the jail has exceeded its overtime budget and swallowed up the money that was available.

Nez Perce County Commission Chairman Douglas Zenner said commissioners expect to keep the three new positions funded through the next fiscal year, but funding three additional deputies in 2014 could be the more difficult task.

"The motion was what it was because we needed to put (these people) in place now," Zenner said.

Lutes said work will begin immediately to hire the three deputies. Job offers will likely be extended this week, followed by a background check and then nine weeks of training.

"If (the new hires) are pretty squeaky clean, there's a good chance we could have them on by mid-April," Lutes said.

Once that happens, he said the jail can begin taking more inmates from Kootenai County again. The flow of inmates from the northern Idaho county had slowed considerably in recent weeks while the jail has been shorthanded, but Lutes said filling more beds will help increase revenue for the rest of the budget year. Additional staff will also improve the atmosphere at the jail, he said.

"I am extremely relieved," Lutes said.

---

Moseley may be contacted at

kmoseley@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2270.