Sunflower County Board of Supervisors President Glenn Donald invited municipal officials, including Indianola Mayor Steve Rosenthal and the Indianola Board of Aldermen to meet with them and members of the sheriff’s department during Monday’s board meeting.
City law enforcement officials Chief Edrick Hall and Assistant Chief Earnest Gilson also joined the group. The intent was to discuss an ongoing issue related to the city sending its prisoners to jail facilities other than the Sunflower County lockup.
After introductions, Donald thanked the group for coming and stated that his goal was to have the two boards come together along with Moorhead officials, who were invited according to Donald, but did not come, to address the concerns.
“It looks bad on us taking inmates over to Leflore County,” Donald said.
Statements made by Donald and other officials published in the March 15 edition of The Enterprise-Tocsin prompted Donald to call the special session.
He insisted then that it was “wrong” for the Indianola officials to take taxpayer’s money to another county, especially when they might have to depend on the sheriff’s department for backup. Several officials expressed their opinions and offered advice to resolve the issues during the session that lasted nearly 40 minutes.
Handing Donald and the other supervisors a typed list, Rosenthal said, “these are the things that we need to be able to continue to do here in Sunflower County. We are the single largest taxpayer for the county, and we would hate to see us not to do business here, but if we can just do these five things, we would be glad to pay you $45. That’s what we are currently paying in Greenwood.”
Indianola is currently paying the sheriff’s department $35 per day to house its inmates.
Donald continued his remarks by asserting that Sunflower County has a full-time nurse on staff and a doctor on call 24/7.
Rosenthal informed him that they were there simply to present the list of things that the city needs but continued, “if we can do those, we don’t need anymore conversation. We’re here for this.”
“Well, let me say this. Holdup Mr. Mayor, I don’t know what’s true or what’s false but,” Donald began.
However, Rosenthal interrupted, “well, nobody’s talking about anything that’s gone on. This is what we need to make it work.”
Donald then interrupted him, “sir, I’m talking right now. My concern was that our tax dollars are going to another county. If there is a discrepancy, I just want us to sit down, nobody blaming nobody, I just want us to sit down and talk about it Mayor, so that we can get the discrepancy off and work things out.”
Donald again said that the county pays for medical personnel at the county jail. And if an issue arises that warrants more extensive medical attention the doctor, Wade Dowell, would determine if the individual needed to go to the hospital.
Rosenthal then asked permission to speak.
He asked that they read over the list because even though they are discussing items, no one has read the list.
“My thing, take a moment to look at it and if we can do it, we don’t have to ying-yang about anything,” Rosenthal said. “This is what we need. This is what’s being offered to us to do what we need to do.”
Rosenthal said for the sake of the citizens, the city must look for the best services for the money they spend.
Donald retorted, “Mr. Mayor we’re not going to come into your board meeting and run things, please. We brought you in to ask questions and discuss.”
Donald said they would look over the paper and decide what to do.
“But let us say what we’ve got to say,” Donald said. “You call it ying-yang, but this is important business, we represent the citizens of Sunflower County.”
Rosenthal’s list contained five requests.
First, that the county would have space for up to 10 of the city’s inmates at any given time with the county accepting all they bring; that the Indianola prisoners become the responsibility of the sheriff’s office while they are housed there, and the Indianola police will be notified prior, if a transfer is needed; that all city law enforcement officers will be treated with professionalism and respect; that the county follows all bonding requirements imposed on the prisoners by the city and finally, that any juvenile who commits a gun crime be housed at the Sunflower County jail.
Sheriff James Haywood reminded the group that the sheriff’s department has been under federal scrutiny for a number of years, and that it has taken a lot of work to come from under the mandate although, he still must answer to them, especially concerning gun crimes involving juveniles.
Haywood also said that he wished the list had been presented before they came together for the meeting, because it is a lot to absorb.
At that point, Rosenthal suggested they come back for the next meeting since the late submission was due to him only having received notice of this meeting on Thursday, and the email inviting the aldermen did not arrive until Friday.
Rosenthal said he would rather wait until the county officials had time to look at what the city was requesting.
“We’re asking simple things,” Rosenthal said. “Here’s an agency that doesn’t get a dime from us, providing services that y’all are not willing to provide. So, look at it, we’ll come back and if you can provide it, let’s move forward. We want to benefit the county, because the county should benefit us.”
Alderman Gary Fratesi also suggested that a decision be tabled until after the supervisors and the sheriff had a chance to review the list since they were unaware of the issues.
Rosenthal again emphasized that the city of Indianola sends the county more money than any other city in the county.
“We would expect to get at least as good a services as that provided through an out of county agency that gets not a dime from y’all.” Rosenthal added, “Given the right conditions, we’ll come back.”
After perusing Rosenthal’s list, Jailor Eddie Bounds said, “Most of the stuff (that) I’ve read on here we’re practically already doing, accept for the juvenile, with the 15-year-olds for guns.”
Bounds said based on their communications with the justice department, the juvenile offenders can be housed at the county jail but the adjudication papers verifying that he or she has been certified as an adult must accompany the inmate.
Bounds also informed the group that after a meeting their department had with Hall and his assistant chief, Haywood hired an extra person to transport prisoners to the doctor once medical personnel determines they need to go.
He also assured them that the county has sufficient beds for the inmates, although they only have six beds to accommodate female prisoners.
“And you’re welcome to use it,” Bounds added.
Rosenthal remained standing the entire time, even after Donald insisted he take a seat.
“Mr. Mayor please sit down,” Donald said.
Rosenthal refused,
“No, I’ve got other places to go,” Rosenthal said.
Donald then retorted, “then you may be excused then, cause you come in here giving us a list of demands that we have to do, all we want to do is talk about it and work this thing out.”
Rosenthal again conveyed to Donald that it was not a list of demands and voiced his desire to work things out as well, which he said could be easily done if the county were to sign off and agree to provide the services the city is already getting.
“You’re spending taxpayer money, not your money, this (is) my money too,” Donald said. “As a taxpayer, I don’t think it’s fair for you taking the City of Indianola, where I pay taxes at, to Leflore County for some petty reasons.”
Rosenthal replied, “I wish we didn’t have to.”
Haywood reemphasized that the requests on Rosenthal’s list had already been addressed in a meeting with Hall a couple of months prior.
Hall confirmed that he, Haywood, Bounds, Gilson and Chief Deputy Marvin Flowers did meet and resolved some issues. However, Hall said he does still have some concerns.
He mentioned the confusion still surrounding the juvenile offenders, noting that the youth court judges are telling his officers that once the juvenile commits a gun crime, he or she is no longer under their jurisdiction therefore they can’t certify the individual as an adult, and the sheriff can’t house them unless they are certified, which leaves the individual in limbo.
Donald suggested having a circuit judge do it.
Hall shared how a lot of those crimes happen outside of normal hours.
“Good luck with trying to find a circuit judge that time of morning,” Hall said.
Donald then asked if the Leflore County jail was accepting the young prisoners even though the Sunflower County could not, and Hall answered affirmatively.
Donald conceded that he doesn’t see a problem with taking one person that the county jail can’t handle. His problem is with the rest of the prisoners being transported that the jail can handle.
Supervisor Riley Rice voiced concern that the city’s decision to transport its prisoners is affecting the jail and the families of those that work at the jail because they are taking money outside of the county, plus the families of the inmates and the public defenders are affected.
Rice said no one is against anybody and called for the officials to sit down and agree to work together.
Alderman Marvin Elder concurred.
“We’ve got to work together,” he said and called for the return of the inmates back to the county.
Although Rice said he was unaware of any problems like this during his 16 years as an alderman, Rosenthal said there have been issues for years, dating back through four different police chiefs, but they want to resolve it.
Haywood too said the issue is historic, and they just must get past it and work with everybody. Rosenthal said it is just five simple things that they’re asking.
“Not for the moon and the sun,” he said.
Haywood admitted that there are some elements that may not want to see law enforcement work together, but said he is willing to work with Indianola and do whatever it takes.
Donald added that the county has always tried to work with any city and do whatever they asked with no charge. He questioned why the city allowed things to come to this before coming to them.
“I’m not a politician. All I try to do is, do my job,” Hall said.
He said that his job is to take care of his staff.
Alluding to a 2001 accident where a fellow officer and friend was killed, while transporting a prisoner, Hall said it was not his desire to have his officers transporting prisoners outside of the county on a regular basis.
Hall culminated his remarks by stating that he has a great deal of respect for Haywood.
Donald said he wanted to leave the meeting knowing that there is a solution to all of this. He called Haywood and Hall great leaders.
Rice added, “the public needs to know we are working together.”
