BENTONVILLE — Benton County's justices of the peace heard a pitch Tuesday to privatize medical care for inmates in the jail.
Rob Holly, chief deputy, told the Quorum Court's Committee of the Whole the Benton County Sheriff's Office has been exploring hiring a company to provide medical care. Holly said the complexities of the necessary medical services are outside the expertise of the sheriff and his staff.
At A Glance
Committee Action
Benton County’s Committee of the Whole met Tuesday and recommended for approval:
• Appointing Alicia Tilghman to the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission.
• Changing the interim filling of an emergency vacancy in the Sheriff’s Office.
• Applying for a grant for the Adult Drug Court.
• Spending $1,450 from the Arkansas Festival GIF Grant.
• Spending $4,500 from the Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant.
• Spending $20,000 from the Maysville Community Center GIF Grant
• Spending $20,000 from the County Clerk’s for moving expenses associated with the Rogers office.
• Deleting a deputy collector supervisor position and adding a deputy collector position.
Source: Staff Report
"We don't have the capacity to supervise a medical staff," Holly said.
Holly told the committee the Sheriff's Office has talked to four companies in the field. He brought two representatives from Southern Health partners to brief justices of the peace. Tim Quintana, a marketing representative, and Dr. Jason Junkins, who's also on the company's staff, answered questions about their experience in other jails.
Quintana said the company has been in business for more than 20 years and has contracts to provide medical services to more than 200 facilities. He said the company has been seeking contracts in Arkansas for the last six months and told the committee they have agreements with Arkansas, Miller, Saline and Boone counties.
Quintana said the company expects to save the county money by minimizing inmate trips to hospitals and providing more medical care in the jail. He said the company can also reduce costs on services and pharmaceuticals because it operates on a larger scale than a single entity.
Holly told the justices of the peace the next step will be to bid the service and see what response the county receives. He said he expects all of the companies the office contacted will submit bids. No action on the proposal was taken Tuesday.
The committee voted Tuesday to approve amending the 2012 budget, correcting an oversight brought to attention by state auditors.
The committee recommended amending the 2012 budget to correct a transfer to the capital projects fund that was planned but never made. The justices of the peace allocated $1.8 million for Fisher Ford Bridge in the 2012 budget but the project was delayed and the transfer was never made.
Sarah Wilson, comptroller, said state auditors said ordinances require the transfer be made, and the committee voted to amend the 2012 budget to "zero out" the $1.8 million in the 2012 budget. The action will go to the Quorum Court for approval at its next meeting, March 20.
"This is what the auditors want us to do," Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4, said of the amendment.
NW News on 03/12/2014