Rep. Carl Newton: 'James Crabtree Correctional Center is in danger'
January 29, 2020
The unseasonably warm temperature Monday wasn't the only thing out of the ordinary during the Alfalfa County commissioners meeting: Dr. Carl Newton, Oklahoma Representative of District 58, made a proverbial emergency landing at the tail-end of the meeting with urgent news: James Crabtree Correctional Center (JCCC) in Helena – along with possibly four other facilities across the state – is in danger of closing. Jay Hague, Stan Tucker, and Marvin Woodall were all ears as Newton took the floor.
“We need to be contacting the governor and the Department of Corrections (DOC) director, and the Depart of Public Safety director to inform them of the need and the impact it would have on our part,” he said, expressing his desire to be proactive. Calling the potential issue a great concern, Newton went on to list JCCC positives (besides the obvious employment opportunities it provides):
• It is one of the only facilities in the state that runs in the black.
• Every dollar spent in the canteen collects county sales tax.
• Its inmate population, comprised of an older demographic, has more extensive healthcare needs that would be burdensome for other facilities to take on.
• Inmates are well taken care of and at a lower cost.
“No offense but our governor's a guy, and I looked it up by statutory regulations, the Department of Corrections director, all he has to do is say, 'It's closed,' and it closes. So if the governor told the Department of Corrections director to close Crabtree Correctional Center, it'd be closed tomorrow.”
“So basically, the governor is in charge,” Hague spoke up, evoking affirmation from Newton who clarified that the DOC director is the one at the reins, but under the supervision of the governor.
“The way things have happened, it could be overnight,” said Newton as he again emphasized taking the proactive stance instead of the reactive. “They could make a decision tomorrow ...”
He said he, personally, had a meeting with the DOC scheduled for Wednesday morning and is also considering a town hall meeting in Helena. Right now it is just him, he said, but he is looking over financials and planning meetings with the right people.
Commissioner Woodall asked, “Is this just talk, or...,” to which Newton replied, “It's talk right now, but I mean, no offense, the way he [the governor] steps up – you don't hear what they're going to do. He just does it and then we find out later.” He mentioned seeing something on television about the Turnpike Authority being put together with the Department of Transportation and said that was not an item he was familiar with.
Until more is known, Newton's plan of action is to get as many people as possible to “flood the phone banks” in hopes of making a positive impact.
The regular agenda items that were addressed before Rep. Newton came in were the following:
• Maintenance and operation warrants for payment, monthly officers report, and blanket purchase orders (all were approved)
• Circuit engineering district auction policies
• A request to change Amanda Jones back to the receiving officer
• The five-year bridge plan for all three districts
• A private property easement for District 2 for NW¼ of 25-25-12 to stock and burn trees
• District 2 to take items to an online auction ending Tuesday, Feb. 11 (a 2012 Excavator 210G/John Deere Trackhoe (Inv. no. D2 332-209, Serial no. 1FF210GPCE520095) and a 2014 Armor Lite trailer (Inv. no. D2 348-213, Serial no. 56EA53K21EA000089) to http://www.purplewave.com)
Lastly, a resolution (effective Jan. 1) for the redistribution of the 52% Health Sales Tax was passed as follows:
• EMS 21.5%
• Enhanced 911 20%
• Aline Responder unit 6.5%
• Amorita Responder unit 6.5%
• Byron Responder unit 6.5%
• Burlington Responder unit 6.5%
• Cherokee Responder unit 6.5%
• Carmen Responder unit 6.5%
• Goltry Responder unit 6.5%
• Helena Responder unit 6.5%
• Nescatunga Responder unit 6.5%
• Jet Responder unit 6.5%
(The 52% is a part of the 2% sales tax where 52% is allocated to health, 18% to county general, 10% to fairgrounds, and 20% to county blacktop roads.)
Reader Comments(0)