Carroll County Sheriff Ken Pingrey informed the board of supervisors at this (Monday) morning’s meeting of his intent to cancel a nearly five-year-old contract with Calhoun County to house its prisoners in the Carroll County Jail. According to Pingrey, the agreement with Calhoun County dates back to May 1, 2021, but they’ve run into challenges recently.
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Control of the county jail and its operations are under the purview of the sheriff, and Pingrey would not need approval from the supervisors to begin the cancellation process if he chooses. The board’s chief concern was the potential loss of jail revenues via room-and-board fees from Calhoun County. Pingrey says the existing partnership with Polk County would more than cover any lost revenues.
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Pingrey adds Polk County often sends prisoners who have already been sentenced and been through the detox process, so they are often some of the jail staff’s best-behaved inmates. Ben Smith, who serves as the county attorney for both Sac and Calhoun counties, attended Monday’s meeting and was displeased with Pingrey’s decision to begin ending the contract with Calhoun. Smith claims the decision to cancel the contract follows an announcement last week of a commitment from Calhoun County to house prisoners in a new Sac County Jail, pending approval by Sac County voters of $12.5 million bond referendum to finance its construction.
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Pingrey denies the decision was retaliatory and emphasizes that he has been considering ending the contract for at least half a year, if not longer. Smith argues Carroll and Sac counties are neighbors and should try to assist one another when possible, highlighting a criminal case he is overseeing for Carroll as an example.
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District 4 Supervisor Stephanie Hausman again notes the supervisors have functionally no influence on jail operations, and the boardroom is not the place for negotiations.
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Regardless of if the Sac County Jail bond passes, Calhoun County will be left in a difficult position when Carroll County stops housing its prisoners, as the Sac County Jail would not be operational for several years, even if after its approval. Following the discussion, Pingrey confirmed he would be sending notification of his intent to end the contract, and Carroll County would end the practice of housing Calhoun County prisoners 90 days after the notification is formally delivered. Video from Monday morning’s discussion is included below.
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