Sheriff's Office: jail at 82.62% capacity; new female inmate rates set and surplus may prepay 2017 costs

Brenda Bartz of the Traverse County Sheriff’s Office presented the November jail report and said, "They were operating at 82.62% average capacity usage for November." Bartz delivered the usage statistic as part of a broader operations update. Trevor Wright reported that, starting in January, female inmate rates will be $60 per day but $100 per day for inmates who are noncompliant or have special needs requiring additional staff resources.

Wright and Bartz said the Department of Corrections inspection highlighted maintenance and wellbeing checks as primary concerns; both issues are being addressed and must be corrected by year-end. Wright warned of pressure in budget areas (meals, salaries and other county inmates) but estimated a 2016 surplus of roughly $35,000–$50,000 and asked permission to apply surplus toward 2017 juvenile bed costs and the men's medical contract; the board unanimously asked Wright to closely monitor the December budget and to pay down as much as possible without exceeding budget limits.