Residents urge commissioners to look into building a new jail

GROVETON — A group of concerned residents are petitioning the Trinity County Commissioners Court to create a bond issue to build a new jail.

At the May 14 court meeting, Barbara Chamberlin asked the commission about the possibility of getting a reputable firm to study the matter and respond in time to have the measure on the November ballot.

The jail as it stands can house only 15 prisoners because of a state-approved variance; without the variance, it can house only seven. The county pays upwards of $600,000 or more a year to house prisoners in other facilities.

Chamberlin said the county is paying “ludicrous” amounts of money to house prisoners in other county jails, and that a recent program of using ankle monitors for prisoners that the county approved is not a viable solution.

She said leaving things as they are is no longer an option, and the county and Sheriff’s Office need to unite to find a solution.

A petition drive is under way, and it and more information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3yy7ww8x.

In other business, the court:

•approved the renewal of a bond for Leafah Fish;

•approved personnel action forms;

•approved an agreement between the county and the Texas Department of Public Safety for the Failure to Appear program;

•approved a budget amendment to transfer funds for the purchase of a Mack dump truck; and

•approved a $20,000 bid for property resold by the Trinity County Appraisal District.