County Commission approves $1.3+ million contract to repair seven pods at Polk County Jail

• Sheriffs Office to get Maintenance Director
• Commissioners utilizing Landfill Fund transfer to cover costs

The Polk County Commission in April heard a ear-full from Sheriff Johnny Moats about the condition of his facilities. Enough to get him cussing mad about the situation happening and questions posed about spending on plumbing costs so far.

Now after some investigation into the matter and finding a company willing to come in and do the job, the County Commission has a total amount approved for what they are willing to spend for repairs of old pods within the facility to get them back up and running.

SteelCo Services is set to get $1.3 million+ from the County to complete the repairs of seven pods within the facility. Commissioners voted unanimously for the company with the only bid available to complete the work at the cost set forth. It came as a request directly from the Finance Committee for completion.

“This proposal is based on the pricing of one unit being completed at a time,” Commissioner Ray Carter said. “Doing this one at a time would be more expensive with the inflationary costs, and made it not practical.”

Commission Chair Hal Floyd said the seven pods as part of the “new” jail will get upgraded in this spending plan, and that will ultimately give the Sheriff’s Office the capability of housing 224 inmates in renovated facilities.

How the work will be completed is just as important: SteelCo Services will take two weeks per pod to finish the work, then take a break to allow the Sheriff’s Office to handle inmate housing shifts as one portion of the project completes and another begins.

Commission Chair Hal Floyd when other commissioners raised concerns about housing issues while a single pod is closed for repairs that it would be up to Sheriff Johnny Moats to figure out how his staff will accommodate the schedule for SteelCo Services to complete the work.

“I don’t plan to micromanage the Sheriff, he’ll have to figure it out,” Floyd said.

The work is being paid for thanks to another vote from Commissioners to allow a transfer of $1.5 million from the landfill fund to cover the cost of the jail rehab project, plus work the county has to complete before SteelCo Services begins the work.

Commissioners also voted to ensure that maintenance issues don’t get this far ever again.

They approved a new position on staff for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office as Maintenance Director, providing a salary range at G-20 for the position. Additional information about hiring will be made available by the county for the new role in the coming weeks once a job posting as been completed.

The moves on Tuesday night came after an April session where Moats complained about problems at the jail with multiple pods following issues with past administrations dealing with pipe maintenance in the worst possible way, and leaving pods flooded due to leaks in pipes embedded in concrete or the walls.

Commissioner Jordan Hubbard said having three maintenance workers on staff will help ensure that new repairs aren’t missed, but also wants more maintenance on staff for the county overall.

Currently just one maintenance worker covers the entire jail facility, with a second spot open since last year.

Two other maintenance workers cover the other 310,000 square feet of county facilities. Hubbard pointed out this is a major shortfall in staffing considering the amount of space.

Moats said in a text message to Polk Today following the votes on Tuesday night they were glad to get the help.

“I am thankful the Commissioners passed this needed project for our jail and hiring a maintenance director for the jail,” he said.

County Manager Matt Denton additionally noted that other work will keep the jail maintenance staff busy as there are new repairs required by the Health Department, plumbing issues to resolve in the old portion of the jail which could open up new space, and work to complete prior to SteelCo Services to work on prior to the beginning of their work.

“It’s a 24/7 operation, so there’s something happening all the time,” Denton said.