Sheridan Council oks modifications to city jail to hold more inmates, increases leash law fees

By Milie McClain

The search for a new police chief, increased leash law fees, the city jail, and the district court were just a few of the numerous topics addressed by the Sheridan City Council last week in its regular monthly meeting.

After reviewing and approving the minutes of the previous meeting, bills for payment and the treasurer's report, the aldermen heard reports from the various city departments beginning with the Sheridan Fire Department. Fire Chief Tim Stuckey reported normal activity for the month.

Reports then quickly shifted to the Sheridan Police Department and Sheridan Detention Center. Interim Chief Lt. Brent Cole reported that Dallas County is shutting down the female wing of its jail and will be sending its female prisoners to the Sheridan facility. He added that the City of Arkadelphia is also considering taking the same action. Cole then requested that the council grant him approval to move the 309 inmates into the annex and convert the existing 309 space into misdemeanor detainee space.

Cole explained that the current female space is more than sufficient for the amount of female inmates housed on average adding that the female wing is seldom ever full and more often than not holds only one to four female inmates. There are currently 18 beds in the female area, but it can hold a maximum capacity of 25-30 female inmates. Therefore, he said there is plenty of room to take in the female inmates from Dallas County and Arkadelphia.

Lt. Cole did note, however, that the Sheridan Detention Center is in need of more space for male inmates, which was why he requested approval to move the 309 inmates into the annex area, which would then open up the current 309 block for misdemeanor detainees. The annex area is currently just office space.

"Right now that area is not generating any revenue for the city," Cole said. "The officers all have laptops in there now and we will utilize the training room area in the police department for a patrol room. The annex area of the jail was built so that it is adequate to turn into a holding area. It was built with security walls, et cetera."

The only major renovations that would need to be made to the annex is to add a wall and one bathroom to that area, according to Cole. Some other things will have to be done such as adding a deadbolt, some plumbing and ventilation for the bathroom, etc. These changes will then increase the detention center's current bed space from 65 to 85 beds. This increase in bed space means the detention center would be able to house more prisoners generating additional revenue. Changing the 309 space into an area to house misdemeanor detainees could generate an extra $134,000 per year.

Why is generating more revenue important? Cole explained: "In 2015 the sales tax for the jail expires. That is only a few years away. By 2015, I would like to be able to still generate the same amount of revenue that we are generating now with the sales tax. That would ensure that without the sales tax the detention center could still operate at the same staff/officer level as we are now."

After some discussion, a motion was made by Alderman Carlton Cummings to approve Cole's request. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.  Cole said the work to move the 309 inmates into the annex would begin immediately.

Officer Ken Wicker then addressed the council concerning the new K-9 that was donated to the city. Wicker is now the dog's handler. He informed the aldermen that the dog, Uk, had recently visited the veterinarian and received a good bill of health.

Other matters concerning the police department came late in the meeting after the council returned from a 45-minute executive session. Alderman Bill Crossley moved to set June 15, 2008 as the cut-off date for accepting applications for the Chief of Police position. The motion carried unanimously.

Sheridan Mayor Joe Wise added that "Our plan is to receive applications until June 15. Some aldermen plan to be out of town until the week of June 23. At that time, I plan to call a special meeting to review and consider all applications."

Mayor Wise said the city has received about 10 applications so far of which about half could be considered local people.

The topic of vacation, sick leave and holiday pay for former police chief David Hooks immediately followed. Alderman Roy Baxley moved to pay Hooks accumulated sick leave, vacation time and year-to-date holiday pay in the amount of $18,638.71. This payment is in accordance with Arkansas State Law regarding law enforcement officers and the City of Sheridan's personnel policy. The motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Wise explained that the total amount to be paid to Hooks included 528 hours or 66 days of sick leave that Hooks had accumulated, seven vacation days or 56 hours of vacation time and four holidays or 32 hours. The holidays Hooks is being paid for include 2008 holidays up to his effective date of retirement, which were New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Robert E. Lee's Birthday, George Washington's Birthday/Daisy Gaston Bates Day, and Good Friday. All of this added up to a total of 616 hours the city will pay Hooks.

During the Public Safety reports, the Council also reviewed a request from the Grant County District Court for approval to purchase computer and printing hardware in the amount of $1,732.01. Mayor Wise explained that the City of Sheridan is custodian of the "Court Automation Fund," but that the Grant County Quorum Court will also have to approve expenditures from this account. Alderman Baxley moved to approve the expenditure. The motion carried unanimously.

In the Water and Sewer report, Sheridan Waterworks Manager David Fitzgerald presented the council with an update on activities. He reported that two fire hydrants on School Street are being replaced. Fitzgerald then noted that the parties responsible for dumping grease residue into the sewer system after cleaning numerous grease traps at various businesses had finally been caught. He explained that there was a considerable effort required to clean the sewer lines after the illegal dumping.

During discussion about the clean up, City Attorney Ed Koon suggested the possibility of suing the violator to regain labor and other costs associated with the clean up. The council’s consensus was for Koon to write a letter to the violator requesting reimbursement for the clean up or risk facing a lawsuit.

The council also reviewed a letter from a resident requesting his home be connected to the City sewer and the mayor's reply to the letter. The mayor's reply explained that sewer expansions are done by developers and that "Sewer Improvement Districts" could be formed to expand the sewer lines into those areas already in the City that are not currently connected to the City sewer system. No action was taken on this matter.

Sheridan Parks and Recreation Department Director Joel Stanton updated the Council on his department's activities noting that everything was running smoothly. He added that the new Skate Park is getting heavy use.

In old business, the council discussed the city's "leash law." The city has been looking at this issue for several months due to an increase in the number of repeat offenders of the leash law. The council directed Koon to draft a new ordinance that would asses a $55 fine plus court costs - a total of $130 - for the first violation and $130 for subsequent violations plus court costs for a total of $175, and that a fee of $25 be obtained from the owner upon recovering dogs picked up by the animal control officer along with a $25 fee for all adoptions. The inclusion of cats in the leash law was determined to not be feasible. Mayor Wise added that he wished the city could include cats, but understood why that was not feasible. He said that he receives numerous calls pertaining to cat complaints, but it is nearly impossible to catch a cat that doesn't want to be caught.

The current citation for a leash violation is $55 plus court costs per incident.

"We first give offenders a warning,” Lt. Cole explained. “We try not to write citations, and in most situations a warning is sufficient because that person will put their dog up and not continue to let it run loose. However, we do have those who will continue to let their animal run loose even after receiving a warning and multiple tickets. We receive complaint after complaint on these dogs. We hope that this will resolve these problems." 

Cole explained that the $25 fee for picking up a dog and adopting a dog will be used to help maintain the facility and care for the animals.

"The fees will help fund the shots, feed, worming, et cetera. There is not much of a budget for the pound right now," Cole added. "A lot of our stuff is donated with the exception of shots and medicines. The city pays for all of that. These fees will allow us to repair pens that are in desperate need of repairs, buy food when donations are low, purchase better dog houses. Most of the doghouses we have now are old plastic barrels made into doghouses. Basically, it will help us maintain the pound, better care for the animals and possibly even expand in the future."