Franklin BOC to Vote on Jail, Health Insurance Issues Tonight

Franklin County Commissioners are expected to vote on a number of issues when they meet for their regular meeting tonight.

Probably the most controversial is the funding of the proposed four-pod jail expansion project.

The Franklin County Grand Jury recently recommended the county move forward as quickly as possible with the $2.4 million dollar project.

However, the Board of Commissioners has said there is no money to fund the entire project right now.

A number of funding options have been looked at over the past year, but the board has not approved any of them.

At their work session last week, Commissioner Jeff Jacques suggested doing half the project now for $1.5 million using about $850,000 set aside for jail improvements from a previous SPLOST.

Jeff Jacques trt: 37 oc:

County Manager John Phillips said if approved tonight, he would begin researching how much of the project could be started.

Another hot topic for discussion at their work session last week is whether the Board of Commissioners should be offered County health insurance.

Both Commissioner Jacques and Commissioner Clint Harper are against the idea, calling it nothing more than a perk the county can’t afford and a violation of the employee handbook which states only full-time employees can get on the county healthcare plan.

Tonight’s meeting takes place at 6p at the Justice Center in Carnesville.