Union questions conditions at Meigs Sheriff’s Office

Conditions at the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and Jail are being questioned with an environmental study being requested from the deputies’ union. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Environmental Study Requested During Commissioners Meeting

POMEROY, Ohio – A request has been made for an environmental study to be done on the condition of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Keith O. Wood discussed the letter he received on Jan. 3, 2017 from the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and OPBA Attorney, Mark Volcheck. The OPBA is the union representing the deputies. Sheriff Wood discussed the letter with the Meigs County Commissioners during their regular meeting Jan. 4, 2017. The letter states, “The physical condition of the Sheriff’s Office continues to be a troublesome matter to members of the OPBA. More specifically, members are concerned for their health. It is requested that an environmental site assessment be conducted by an independent contractor for both the building and land of the Sheriff’s Office. Such is necessary to correct deficiencies and/or to allay growing concerns of health hazards.”

A wall in the basement of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office has what appears to be mold growing on it. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Years of plumbing and wiring run throughout the basement of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

A portion of the basement of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

The basement floor where moisture from the seeping cast iron sewer pipe is visible in the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office basement. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

A cast iron sewer pipe that will overflow in the basement of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and Jail. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

All along the foundation walls of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office are piles of dust from the limestone foundation. Falling dust is visible in the 121 year old foundation. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Some repair work has been done to a back foundation wall, but other issues remain with the foundation. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Pipes in the basement of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and Jail. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Decades of wiring phone lines and other wires. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Part of a ceiling with issues on the second floor of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

A portion of the second floor with cracking plaster from a roof leak. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

The small holding facility of the Meigs County Jail located in the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

The toilet and shower area of the Meigs County Jail. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

The jail cell at the Meigs County Jail still uses the original 121 year old keys to open the cell doors. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Meigs County Commissioners, Mike Bartrum, Randy Smith and Tim Ihle questioned what the request exactly wanted and who was to pay for such an assessment. The matter was turned over to Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney James Stanley to make contact with the OPBA attorney and inquire further on the requested environmental assessment. The Meigs Independent Press attempted to contact Attorney Volcheck, but had not heard from him as of publication.

Conditions at the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and Jail were discussed during the Nov. 2017 election. Sheriff Wood was seeking a new facility to replace the 121 year old structure. Issues with mold, the foundation, and sewer pipes were brought up during the election. Those issues remain with the facility. Additionally, there has been an ongoing problem with river rats at the facility.

Sheriff Wood also presented the Meigs County Commissioners with a letter to have the bond issue for a new sheriff’s office and correctional facility on the May ballot. This had been planned previously prior to receiving the letter form the OPBA. Sheriff Wood told the commissioners that the same plan and amount of 2.95 mil levy would be what he is seeking to have approved for the May election. The plans previously made for the facility will continue to be used for the proposed project. The commissioners only had to acknowledge receipt of the letter which will go through the process to be placed on the ballot.

From left, Commissioners Mike Bartrum, Randy Smith and Tim Ihle discuss issues during the Jan. 4, 2018 meeting. Photo by Carrie Gloeckner.

Also during the meeting, Bartrum noted it was his last meeting as president of the commissioners. “It’s an honor to have been president for the last year,” he said and noted that the commissioners “work well together.”

During the meeting Prosecutor Stanley’s request for a portion of the Furtherance of Justice funds be approved in the amount of $10,000. The request was unanimously approved.

Commissioners also passed the annual resolution for work to be done by the Meigs County Engineer.

The commissioners also discussed wording in the employee manual regarding vacation time. It was voted to change the wording on page 54 of the manual concerning time accrued was clarified to state those with service 15 years through less than 25 years.

A special meeting has been scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 for the Meigs County Commissioners to annually appoint employees.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Meigs County Commissioners is Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 at 11 a.m. in the commissioners’ office located on the third floor of the Meigs County Courthouse.