Staffing jail expansion a challenge

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — With an expected completion of the Kootenai County Jail expansion around Labor Day, hiring enough staff to safely oversee the additional space and inmates upon occupancy has become a race against time.

"It’s certainly a concern," Sheriff Ben Wolfinger told reporters on Tuesday during a construction update and jail tour.

Wolfinger said he’s told county commissioners from the beginning that he needs an adequate number of employees to staff the $12.5 million, 30,000-square-foot expansion that will increase the number of beds from 327 to 441.

Wolfinger said the county is looking to hire 15 detention deputies and five control room operators before the doors to the jail expansion can open.

To boost recruiting efforts, the sheriff’s office is hosting a Public Safety Career Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5500 N. Government Way to introduce those interested to career options. The starting wage for deputies is more than $19 per hour. Benefits include the state’s retirement program and training.

Wolfinger said the county has even sent recruiters to military bases in hopes of filling positions. He said the low unemployment rate, failed background checks and attrition with existing staff have been among the factors that have slowed hiring for the expansion.

A department reorganization last year eliminated the need for two additional sergeants that were originally sought.

A TV reporter asked Wolfinger if the openings are an opportunity for the agency to diversify its employees.

"We need to diversify — no question — but right now my focus is getting people who are qualified for the job," he said.

Wolfinger said the recent cold snap slowed brick work on the expansion, but work was directed to the interior as a result so the project remains on schedule.

"If they’re able to finish by Labor Day, they will have done an incredible job really fast," he said of Sletten Construction.

The expansion building project is being paid for with existing county funds, so it did not raise taxes.

The expansion will reduce or eliminate the need for Kootenai County to house and transport inmates to five jail facilities outside the area, but the local jail could be at capacity by the time it opens.

Kootenai County’s total inmate population reached a record-high of 471 on Feb. 18. Of those, 94 were housed off-site to alleviate overcrowding.

The average daily population for January was 418 inmates compared to 369 in January 2017 and 338 in January 2016.

The county is spending $150,000 to $160,000 per month to house inmates out of the area. That figure does not include transportation costs.

While Wolfinger believes the expansion could have been larger to plan for the future, it should save the county money overall even with the $1.3 million needed for staffing, reduce risks by not transporting inmates and make it nicer for families who want to visit the inmates.

"We’d much rather keep the money here," he said.

The expansion will also expand the number of medical beds from four to 28.

"We’re now holding medical patients in regular holding cells, which shouldn’t be the case," Wolfinger said.