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Last updated on Tuesday, May 1, 2018
(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Sheriff Mike Branham told the Commissioners this morning that the average daily inmate count at the jail so far this year is 178.
"We didn't see a spike until this year," says Sheriff Branham. "Since 2014 the daily average was 114, then 124 to 129 in 2017 and for this year 178. For the month of April the daily count was 184."
Today the inmate count was 183, of those 41 are females, 14 Level 6 convicted felons and 5 Department of Correction holds.
"We currently are not housing any inmates in other facilities," Sheriff Branham added.
In other business:
Sheriff Branham will hold a security drill at Courthouse Plaza on May 11. The drill will happen during early morning hours and last about 30 minutes. A security drill will be held at the Courthouse on May 29 or 30th.
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Sheriff Branham requested a fee for photos of accidents and crime scenes be adjusted in an old county ordinance.
Currently, attorneys or insurance companies are paying $5 for each photo they request. The commissioners approved a flat $15 initial fee and $1 for each photo requested.
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During a Courthouse Security meeting concerns were brought up that employees could not dial 911 from the phones inside the Courthouse or Courthouse Plaza
Sheriff Branham says that is not true.
"All a person has to do is dial 9 first to get an outside line and then dial 911," He added.
Officials are working to provide panic buttons in each office of the Courthouse and Courthouse Plaza. Once those are in place, employees will also be able to download an app on their smartphones allowing them to call for help with a push of a button.
Officials say there is a need for more security cameras and speakers for the emergency announcement system in the Courthouse and Courthouse Plaza. Once funds are available they will be put in place.
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Lawrence County Highway Department crews are preparing for summer paving.
Highway Superintendent David Holmes says crews are patching potholes, adding new gravel to gravel roads and doing some short paving projects.
"We should begin our major paving jobs, weather permitting, the first week of June," he added.
Bridge work continues on Bridge 67 on Lawrenceport Road and Bridge 78 on Pumphouse Road. Once the bridge is completed on Lawrenceport Road crews will move in to pave the road.
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The commissioners improved a request to replace the carpet in the assessor's conference room and the surveyor's office at a total cost of $6,071. Axsom's Flooring provided the lowest bid on the projects.
They also approved purchasing an industrial ADA recommended picnic table for the back lot at Courthouse Plaza. The cost of the table is not to exceed $700.
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Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer told the commissioners the City of Mitchell will hold a mock tornado disaster on May 23. Headquarters will be set up at the Community Center.
"This will let us meet our hazmat, test the city's operation plan and test well heads requirements," she added.
Luchauer is also meeting with community officials, firefighters, emergency crews in an action conference to discuss the Fibertech fire.
"We will address how everything went, what we can improve on and will meet with the owner of Fibertech to see what steps can be taken to make sure a fire like this will not happen in the future," she added.
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