Lawrence County Council Approves Hiring Of Six People For Sheriff’s Department

(BEDFORD) – The Lawrence County Council meeting was held Tuesday night with only President David Flinn and Auditor Jodi Edwards in the meeting room; remaining members were on a telephone conference call.

The media and Lawrence County Council Candidate Jerry Hill also attended the meeting.

The meeting started later due to establishing conference calls during the Executive Session. This was the first time the Lawrence County Council had to meet under these conditions.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Lawrence County Sheriff Mike Branham requested the hiring of six positions.

  • 3 Merit Deputies – Two deputies retired with 20 years’ experience, and one quit when hired by the Indiana State Police.
  • 1- Corrections Officer took another job
  • 1 -The dispatcher took another job
  • 1 – Part-time custodian person left the position

The Sheriff gave a jail report:

  • 124 Inmates – 102 Males, 22 Females
  • 3 – Level Six Felons
  • 0 – DOC Holds
  • 0 – Parole Holds

The sheriff also reports that the DOC wants the jail to hold those sentenced to the Department of Correction for 30 days prior to transporting them to the designated facility. Originally the request was to check their temperature 24 hours prior and that was good enough to send them on.

Deputy Prosecutor Cline reports that they are able to work from home. Also, they continue to move drug offenders over to drug treatment with positive results and good feedback from parents as well as the offenders. These offenders also have jobs and are working.

The prosecutor’s office is continuing in trying to keep the jail population under control while trying to keep the jail staff safe and keep people apart during the health pandemic.

Highway Superintendent David Holmes request for $62,000 to be appropriated for signs in Commissioner District 2 was approved.

The Local Road and Bridge Match Grant of $704,126 for paving this year were also approved.

The County Commissioners’ request from Dustin Gabbart for the replacement of the jail elevator was approved at a cost of $92,000.

Jodi Edwards’s request for an additional appropriation of $1,500 was approved for some overtime that they experience in the auditor’s office.

The hiring request from both Bruce Andis Public Defender’s Office, and Judge Nathan Nikirk was tabled until they get more information.

Judge Nathan Nikirk’s request for the Comcast bill of approximately $1,000 a year was approved to be taken over by the County Commissioners Budget.