County commission re-evaluates law enforcement sales tax issues

Thursday, October 9, 2003

When Timothy Stinnett escaped from the Vernon County Jail this weekend a lot of people around the county were shocked. However, there were some who were not surprised, knowing the condition of the jail facility --including the Vernon County Commissioners. Vernon County Southern Commissioner Bonnie McCord related that she had turned on the TV Sunday and heard a news report talking about a prisoner escaping from an area jail. "Please don't be Vernon County, please don't be Vernon County," she said. However, when the news anchor said Nevada she was not really surprised. Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster said that he hopes the breakout makes people realize that it is a problem and the county needs a new jail. He said that the commissioners are working on a new jail plan that will be better received by the voters. "There is a lot of details to work out before we make any decisions," said Gerster. Presiding Commissioner Charlie Johnson said that Sundays escapes have only reinforced the problems that they already knew were there and the possible results could mean housing more prisoners outside of the county. "We have known for a long time there are problems with the current facility," said Johnson. Vernon County Sheriff Ron Peckman reported that the lock had been tampered with that allowed the two inmates to escape. He feels that this was possible because of the condition of the jail and the escape may not have happened with new updated security measures. Earlier this year a law enforcement tax was voted down by Vernon County residents that was earmarked to build a new county-city law enforcement building, that would have included a new jail facility. Following the tax defeat the county has continued to operate its current facility and house the surplus of prisioners outside of the county. According to county records, Vernon County has already spent $4,245 farming out prisoners to nearby county facilities.

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