Freestone County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement with Anderson County to house inmates for Sheriff Jeremy Shipley’s overloaded facility at the Monday, April 28, meeting.
Shipley had complained to the court that the county jail was “continuously staying full” and needed “more beds” at the April 16 meeting. Anderson County will receive $50 per day per inmate under the terms of the agreement.
Shipley noted that with the new agreement in place Freestone County is now housing inmates in four counties, Anderson, Falls, Houston and Limestone. Shipley’s jail has a 43-inmate capacity, but it needed to house almost twice that many several times in the previous month, he said.
Shipley told the court finding more beds was critical to comply with state regulations.
In other action, the court:
• Approved a funding agreement and an easement with the Texas Historical Commission for the restoration of the courthouse. The commission approved a $6.4 million grant to the county for the construction work in February.
• Opened depository bids from three banks — Citizens National, Prosperity and Community National — that will be evaluated for designation.
• Approved a service agreement for victim notification with Syologist.
• Approved running an ad to get sealed bids for the sale of a small amount of land the county owns at the now defunct Liberty Voting Box.
• Tabled an interlocal agreement with the City of Fairfield.
• Approved insurance for a fire truck valued at $208,000 donated by the Forestry Service to the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department.
• Approved an amended contract with Windstream for telephone service in connection with technology upgrades.
