Deputies' doing transfers will add to cost, sheriff says

The sheriff said state law allows him to contract for the service.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The cost of returning prisoners to Columbiana County is expected to rise just as the county is facing financial straits.
Sheriff David Smith said Thursday that a federal mediator had ruled in favor of the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council union in the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office has used a private company, TransCor America of Nashville, Tenn., since 1990 to return people indicted in the county to the county. TransCor says it is the largest prisoner transportation company in the United States.
But the union filed a grievance that said that TransCor was doing the work of deputies, and a federal arbitrator agreed, Smith said.
That's surprising because state law specifically gives sheriffs the right to contract with companies to return prisoners, Smith said.
The sheriff's office has spent between $15,000 and $20,000 since June 2003 to return prisoners to the county. Smith did not immediately know the number of prisoners returned.
Using deputies would have added $10,000 to the cost, Smith said.
How this works
When authorities in another area discover a person who faces a local charge, they contact the sheriff's office. Smith said he must quickly talk to county Prosecutor Robert Herron and possibly the victim or the victim's family to determine if the case can be prosecuted. Victims may have died, moved or may not want to go through the trauma of testifying, Smith said.
If a decision is made to prosecute the case, Smith said he calls TransCor. The company offers, "One set price to bring a [person] back to the jail," Smith said.
The fee may $200 or more depending on the accused's location.
Smith said the ruling means he will now have to pay for airplane tickets for two deputies, hotels, meals and car rentals. Smith said he will probably have to pay overtime to some deputies to replace those who are traveling.
Smith was represented by Clemans, Nelson and Associates Inc. of Akron. He said he had not talked to Herron about an appeal but believes it's unlikely the arbitrator's decision can be overturned.
The present contract with deputies expires in December. Smith said it's also unlikely that the union would be willing to give up the ruling it won during the talks.
The 2006 appropriations expected next week for county offices are expected to include deep cuts.
The deputies union has 17 members working, but six others are on layoffs because of earlier budget shortfalls.
wilkinson@vindy.com