WCoutlook

Fiscal Court, Jail granted permission to renovate lounge area

By MELODIE PHELPS

News Editor

An employee lounge at the Wayne County Detention Center will be converted to a four-bed cell, after fiscal court granted Jailer Jerry Guinn permission to renovate the space. Guinn told fiscal court members during last Thursday’s meeting that the employee lounge was “wasted space” right now, and that renovating it would mean extra income at the facility.

The state had granted preliminary approval for the renovation, according to Guinn. He said costs for renovating the room would be minimal, and much of the work could be done in-house.

Guinn noted the extra beds could generate as much as $40,000 annually for state prisoners.

As of Thursday, March 21, Guinn said the Wayne County Detention Center had 110 prisoners—92 were state prisoners and 18 were county prisoners. He told Judge-Executive Bruce Ramsey that the jail had billed $72,488.85 to the state for housing state inmates during February.

The facility had its first inspection of the year on March 5, and Guinn reported that they received 100 percent.

Wayne County Hospital Administrator Pat Brinson and Chief Financial Officer Anne Sawyer appeared before fiscal court explaining a new Medicare-Medicaid program, which would mean extra revenues for the local hospital and in turn state government.

Brinson said that the Wayne County Hospital is one of 16 across the state identified as eligible for this program. It would funnel extra federal funds through the facility, the county has to establish an account, where the money can be electronically transferred.

Brinson said the funding would be transferred to the hospital. Any excess funds through the program would go to the state, via the account set up by the county.

County government would have to amend the budget to include the money and the only other responsibility would be to set up the account. A resolution establishing the account, a letter of instruction to the bank, an intergovernmental transfer agreement, and a funds transfer agreement was approved by the court.

In other action during the meeting, the fiscal court:

•Approved adoption of an extension of the Morrows Landing Road.

•Approved the reading of a proclamation designating Severe Storms Month.

•Approved several fund transfers.

•Approved the budget amendment for the County Court Clerk’s Office and the 2001 financial statement. Actual excess fees for 2001 were $126,809, according to Jones.

•Approved a resolution for replacement of the Dugan Street Bridge.

•Agreed to advertise for removal of 378 feet of the Dustin Road.

•Donated $1,000 to the Monticello Fire Department for the July 4th fireworks.

•Approved several appointments—Phillip Catron and Mike Blevins to the EZ Industrial Development Authority; David Pogue to the Wayne County Ethics Commission; Mary Lou Brown and Bill Bush to the Northern Wayne County Ambulance Service District; Kenneth Ramsey to the Monticello-Wayne County Park Board; Glen Dodson and William Inman to the Wayne County Airport Board.

•Heard a report from Solid Waste Coordinator Andrew Parmley who reported that volunteers had picked up 400 to 500 bags of trash on Foster Mountain. Five dump sites were cleaned up with PRIDE funds. The county received $2000 from the state to clean up tires from dump sites. The annual report, totaling 144 pages, has been completed.