Yearwood looking to close new county jail?

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Yearwood looking to close new county jail?

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in News

Wednesday, July 29. 2009

Comments (23)

Are Barrow County leaders considering farming out prisoners to other counties in a bid to cut costs associated with the recent opening of the new county jail?

The Barrow Journal has confirmed that BOC chairman Danny Yearwood has inquired with Oconee County about possibly housing Barrow inmates.

Oconee BOC chairman Melvin Davis said late Tuesday afternoon that Yearwood approached him at a recent meeting they both attended.

Yearwood has also been making inquiries with Walton County about how their sheriff’s department is set up.

For the full story on this and other Barrow news, see the July 29 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 linda on 07/29/09 at 05:38 PM [Reply]

Perhaps someone should remind Mr. Yearwood he is not the highest elected officer in Barrow County. I'm certain he could find a way to divert budget funds, etc., but unless I am mistaken, Jud Smith as Sheriff would have more power in these decisions. Does Mr. Yearwood know this - or the question I guess is would he care before he tries to push his kingly self whereever he wants to be.
By the way Barrow Journal, I love the picture you use of him. He looks like the grinning Cheshire Cat, Barrow County citizens who voted for him should be proud.

#1.1 Anonymous on 07/29/09 at 08:41 PM [Reply]

Linda is right about the photo. A picture says a thousand words. Unctous, sly, sleazy, cheesy are just a few that come to mind.

#1.2 GWD3 on 07/30/09 at 12:39 PM [Reply]

I agree, maybe it's time to get Yearwood, Berry and Elder out of office. One was part of the commitee that lost $1m of our budget to the state, the other two's only way of saving the county money is by cutting our only means of protection and safety. Do they think by cutting the Sheriff's people is going to solve anything? Wait until they need the service and it takes a long time for them to get it due to only having a few deputies and ems on the road. Hire more deputies, have them write tickets and there you go.
Sheriff Smith we are pround of you

#2 tina on 07/29/09 at 08:38 PM [Reply]

Has Danny lost his ever loving mind? The citizens didn't pay for a building to be vacant. Also Just a few months ago we were complaining about housing inmates in other counties.. What the heck is he thinking? Seriously people .. What did we vote for ? Looks like he fooled alot of people.. Should have known he was a snake in the grass. A typical Politician, Tell ya what you wanta hear and then do the opposite. Where's that Recall Citizens? We need this jerk gone before he makes Barrow County look even more ignorant!!!

#3 Not Smart on 07/29/09 at 09:53 PM [Reply]

Does Yearwood really think this would save the county money, I think not. first we beg to bring all of the inmate back to save money now he says it would save money to house out inmate. Think about it if you house one inmate in barrow it cost what 30 dollars, to house 1 inmate outside of the county it cost double so how are going to save money ? and think about the medical, Transporting them to and from for court to arrested them so more gas being used and this it just to name a few thing. NOT VERY SMART.

#4 What!!!! on 07/30/09 at 01:52 AM [Reply]

Chairman Yearwood - Now we know why you missed the meeting this past Monday night. Have you forgotten that the Sheriff is a higher ranking public official - you cannot ambush him out of his office like the CFO.

#5 Joyce on 07/30/09 at 11:42 AM [Reply]

Jud Smith is a higher power, I quess you forget that. By the way I don't think he would stand for this craziness. Danny has dug himslf in a hole and now he doesn't know how to dig out. I also agree with Miss Tina in her comment WHERE is the recall people.

#5.1 Over the whole thing!!! on 07/30/09 at 02:00 PM [Reply]

It is time for everyone one of them to go. We have not had this much BS in county government since Hillard the great was in office. Ugh!! Time to run up the white flag and start over!!!

#5.2 Deacon on 07/30/09 at 04:32 PM [Reply]

I have to agree with Joyce!! What is now happening to our County is a outrage. Yes these are terrible times for everyone right now but you don't cut things that we need as citzens such as Police & Fire Services. The idea of farming out our prisoners is insane!! No county would do this if they had a Jail as nice as the one that we have now. If anyone cares to investigate how much it cost to farm out prisoners that would be shock at the cost involve. County's only do this when they don't have room for their on. The expense to the tax payers is awful.
I think that Mr. Yearwood needs to admitt that he has been made some terrible decisons & either ask for help from those who have
had to make decisons of these kind or kindly save the taxpapers the cost of poor leadership an the embaressment for himself and the cost of a recall election by the voters of Barrow County.

#6 Anonymous on 07/30/09 at 07:02 PM [Reply]

Danny, you really need to think about just leaving town. You are a complete embarrassment to the people of this county. I don't think you can do simple math. If you wanted to save the county money you would have put a halt to all the projects that the county had going (911 center, animal control, and the new jail). It did not make sense to order all new furniture for all these facilities when it could have waited until times got better. Not only buying new furniture but the cost to move into the new court house. Animal control does not even need a new building, they house dogs and cats not children. Who cares what it looks like. All I can say is GOD bless Barrow county, we the citizens need it while we have this idiot in office.
P.S. I wonder when Danny is going to tell the citizens we have to pay for a road improvements at the Chico's warehouse.

#6.1 Anonymous on 07/30/09 at 10:19 PM [Reply]

I am not a fan of Yearwood. But it was not him who decided and started the jail, the 911 center, or the animal control. Also if I remember right, about 8 years ago when I moved to Winder there were a bunch of citizens against building the jail. I even remember a few saying we could not afford to run it. This was 8 years ago. I went to a BOC meeting then, when it was supposedly in the deciding stage. I knew it was a done deal then. Things do nto change in good ole boy systems. Just some of the names.

#7 Communication on 07/30/09 at 11:28 PM [Reply]

I wonder if Mr. Yearwood has talked with the other 6 commissioners about his thoughts on closing our jail. Mr. Yearwood CLEARLY forgets that he works for the commission.

#8 Anonymous on 07/31/09 at 09:15 AM [Reply]

I seem to remember in all the budget discussions over the past year or so, the HIGH COST of farming out prisoners to other counties. While the jail was being built, we "housed" prisoners in other counties for a pretty little penny. To close the jail and farm prisoners out again is just plain stupid.

Better solution -- house prisoners FOR other counties. THAT WOULD BE AN INCOME SOURCE - NOT AN EXPENSE.

OMG - was Danny Boy in la-la land during those meetings? Oh yea - he's in la-la land most of the time.

What an idiot -- Please people we need him out of office NOW.

#9 Huh? on 07/31/09 at 09:06 PM [Reply]

Actually, it DOES cost less to house inmates in nearby county facilities. I think what looked like a large expense a couple of years ago now looks small in comparison by the time you add up daily basic inmate housing costs, personnel costs, utility costs, insurance, repairs, etc. If we are in such a mess in the county then maybe it's not a bad idea to scale things back temporarily. However, the building is here now. Jails are a money pit no matter where you house the inmates. That's just a fact of life in keeping low-lifes off the streets.

Also, don't forget that even if you didn't want to build a jail, the county can be federally mandated to build one if certain conditions and criteria are not met such as overcrowding, facility condition, etc.

Good-day

#10 No Name on 08/02/09 at 04:04 PM [Reply]

Take all the prisoners privilages away and they want
be coming back every time they get out of jail. W e need to keep
our jail open. We need to keep our officers and dentention officers
We need to pay them more for our safety. Jud Smith is doing a good
for our communtinty. Mr. Yearwood need to shape or get out of office. Want my grankids to have a safe place to live in..

#11 I'mSoConfused on 08/02/09 at 09:34 PM [Reply]

Can anyone explain to me why Barrow County needs 3 times as many deputies as Jackson County? I think the good sherriff is pulling a fast one over ya. Shoulda voted for Kogod.

#11.1 For the Record on 08/03/09 at 10:01 PM [Reply]

Well, the answer to your question, atleast in my opinion is this. The crime rate in Barrow Co. is almost 3x higher than that in Jackson Co. for the population BC has a significant crime problem thus, warranting more law enforcement presence. However, Jackson Co. doesn't have the budget problems we have right now, or atleast I haven't heard about them. So, maybe it should be scaled back here or our deputies should be required to have a minimum number of monthly contacts. This would not be a ticket quota because we all know those where found unconstitutional long ago. It would however generate revenue by forcing our deputies to run traffic. What a novel idea deputies running traffic. huh

#11.1.1 Anonymous on 08/04/09 at 08:08 AM [Reply]

Idiot !!!

#12 Robin on 08/03/09 at 01:10 PM [Reply]

Just wondering ,where is the Mayor of Barrow County? since he is not doing anything we can cut his job...

#12.1 For the record on 08/03/09 at 09:53 PM [Reply]

City's have mayors Robin, not counties. Counties have a chairman, who basically is the same thing as a mayor. Our Chairman Mr. Yearwood does however need his job cut you are correct. His management are very lacking and his people skills are worse. The good old boy system has prevailed again. Way to go Yearwood supporters you made your bed now sleep in it.

#13 Anonymous on 08/03/09 at 09:21 PM [Reply]

There is no mayor for Barrow County. There is a mayor for each city in Barrow, but we are stuck with the Chairperson

#14 Wayne on 08/04/09 at 09:07 PM [Reply]

I am very sorry to say I voted for Yearwood, and a friend of mine was telling me that they thought a used car salesman that failed in their everyday business was not a good choice for the Chairman of Barrow County. NOW I Have to say I totally agree. I Wish I Could Withdraw My Vote For Danny Yearwood. The Failed Used Car Salesman Should Not Be running Barrow County He will Bankrupt The County.
Barrow County is a great place to live (NOW) and I hope in the future.

#15 Anonymous on 08/06/09 at 02:23 PM [Reply]

He needs to concentrate more on what he was sworn in for and not worry about the Sheriff's office/detention center. He needs to get his priorites straight.

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