NP sheriff asks to add deputies

More prisoners in jumpsuits at the Nez Perce County Jail is prompting a call for more personnel.

Sheriff Dale Buttrey asked Nez Perce County commissioners Wednesday to add four detention deputies and a maintenance person to the jail to accommodate the increase in the inmate population and the expiration of warranties on equipment within the complex.

More than 120 inmates are housed at the detention center, and jail commander Capt. Steve Lutes said that means dishing out more meals and tending to the needs of more people.

"Everything is taking longer to do," Lutes told commissioners, "it's affecting their duties."

The four deputies would join about 20 already working at the jail. Deputies can now be called off patrol if something comes up at the complex, but Lt. Jack McGee said more inmates are creating the need for added personnel.

"We're kind of reaching the point where we don't have anybody to replace now," he said.

Officials have already ordered more mattresses and cooking utensils to accommodate an influx of inmates from Kootenai County, which recently began housing about 20 inmates at the North Lewiston jail under an agreement that pays Nez Perce County $45 per inmate, per day.

McGee said they'd like to get the deputies on duty before bringing another 20 or 30 inmates from Coeur d'Alene. Additional agreements are in place with the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections and the Nez Perce Tribe, which officials said has helped offset costs to run the 61,674-square-foot building, but has also created the need for additional personnel.

The county is housing Idaho Department of Correction inmates who have been sentenced but have yet to enter the state prison system at $40 per inmate per day.

The need to ramp up staffing levels as the jail fills up is something the county has expected since the building opened to inmates last June, Commissioner Ron Wittman said.

"We knew once we got to a full capacity that more bodies would be needed," Wittman said, noting the jail is a staff-intensive place.

The positions would cost approximately $32,000 per year, per employee, Wittman said, estimating a cost to the overall jail budget of about $160,000.

Renting out beds has brought approximately $143,000 in revenue during the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, more than the $100,000 the county had projected. The jail can house 150 inmates without delving into an additional 28 specialty beds designed for medical and disciplinary measures.

The maintenance person would handle the myriad tasks of repairing equipment and upkeep of appliances within the complex, Buttrey said. Most of that equipment has been under warranty, but Lutes said a recent cleaning of the air filters on the roof ventilation system cost the county more in labor than materials after a crew had to come out.

The commissioners need to meet with Clerk-Auditor Patty O. Weeks to discuss adding personnel to the sheriff's office budget. Commissioners said they expect to schedule a meeting within the next week.

Gary may be contacted at bgary@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2262.