COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Repairs onthe Branch County Jail and security staffing at the Branch County Courthouse are on the mind of the Branch County Board of Commissioers these days. The minutes from a strategic planning session that commissioners held two weeks ago were approved by the commissioners Tuesday during a brief regular meeting.
The board discussed issues at the Branch County Jail in length April 13, which included the Michigan Department of Corrections inspection, the female inmate population and the money being spent on housing.
Front desk security at the courthouse was also discussed. Funds were approved in 2016 for two part time positions but the positions were never filled. Because of that, funds were not designated in the 2017 budget.
After a meeting between Commissioner Leonard Kolcz and Sheriff John Pollack, the Sheriff agreed to hire two part time deputies at 20 hours per week each. The positions will be posted soon.
It was pointed out during the strategic planning session that over $181,000 of the $400,000 budgeted for capital outlays has already been spent on such items as a new phone system and the jail roof. Another $35,000 has been allocated for IT purchases.
Meanwhile, over $61,000 has been spent in the Contingencies budget which had a beginning balance of $200,000. Money for an additional road patrol deputy was among the items taken out of the Contingencies budget.
