Jail Navigator plan detailed

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County sheriff Edward Miller explained a new “Jail Navigator” program being proposed by the board of the Betty Hardwick Center during a regular meeting of the county commissioners on Monday, Aug. 12.

Miller also gave an update on an insurance claim from a May lightning strike that caused extensive electronic damage at the Law Enforcement Center.

Jail Navigator

Miller reported that he had recently been appointed as the “small county sheriff” for the Big Country area to the Betty Hardwick board for a two-year term in accordance with a new state directive.

He explained that the state has modified existing laws about inmates who are suspected of mental illness. Among other things, counties will be required to reimburse “experts” for performing services, he said.

In order to comply with the law, the Betty Hardwick Center (BHC) board is proposing that two “jail navigators” be hired.

Taylor County, the City of Abilene, and BHC will split the cost of the first employee, with the second split proportionately between those three entities and four other counties, including Shackelford.

Because Shackelford is the smallest county, the annual portion would be only $1,034 annually.

No action was taken because the item will be addressed in the upcoming proposed budget.

Insurance Claim

The sheriff also talked about delays in completing the insurance claim from a lightning strike in May.

“Sam Goldsmith responded quickly that night and got us back up and running,” said Miller, who added that the county’s IT consultant also took care of problems over the next couple of months, making multiple trips to the LEC.

However, Miller said that invoices and documentation have been requested “numerous times” by both his office staff and the insurance adjuster, as well as by county judge Bob Skelton and county treasurer Tammy Brown, with no response from Goldsmith.

The claims so far are being paid based on “estimates,” said Miller, and adjustments can be made at a later date if the actual costs are more.