COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners are scheduled on Tuesday to consider a request from the Sheriff’s Department for a full time corrections officer.
Jail Administrator Fred Blankenship told commissioners during their work session last Thursday they want to hire an officer to fill a vacancy on one of their shifts. Blankenship said this will reduce overtime for that shift which is currently short staffed. He said the funding for the rest of this year would be about $25,000 and it would come from part time and overtime money that has not been used.
As for 2017, Blankenship said the total costs including benefits will be just over $49,000 but there would not a budget increase as they plan to transfer funds from part time and overtime.
There are currently 19 corrections officers working at the Sheriff’s Office, with five work three shifts with four working a fourth shift.
