New vote, same result: Commission nixes jail contract

The outcome was the same, but this time the Pettis County Commission followed the law when taking action on a state contract to house sexual predators at the jail.

The commission rescinded its vote to reject the contract during its meeting Thursday. Then, the commissioners took up the same contract and unanimously rejected it.

The commission failed to put the contract on the agenda when it first took it up Aug. 26., which violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law.

Sheriff Kevin Bond had proposed housing sex law offenders who have completed their prison sentences but whom the state wants to hold in mental health facilities as sexually dangerous persons. The plan raised objections in the community and drew about 100 people to a public hearing Aug. 5.

All the commissioners said they rejected the contract out of concerns that the county could spend more money than it received. The state offered to pay $70 per day to house the prisoners.

Sheriff Kevin Bond projected taking in more than $300,000 above operating costs during the first year of the contract.

Presiding Commissioner Rusty Kahrs said the $70 would have to cover medications and mental health care for the prisoners.

“We could actually lose money on it. ... Pettis County would be accepting the burden to pay for health care and medications,” Kahrs said.

The county’s insurance carrier, MOPERM, also sent a letter to the commission advising them against accepting the contract, Kahrs said.