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Commissioners: County lost $382K in utilities pay deal at jail

Gregory Jolivette

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 8:13 PM Monday, June 8, 2009

HAMILTON — Butler County commissioners say an unapproved deal struck by the former county administrator to pay for utilities at a now-closed jail in exchange for lower prisoner-boarding rates backfired, costing taxpayers more than $380,000.

Former county administrator Derek Conklin — who resigned last year amid questions about raises given to his wife — struck the deal in October 2007, which commissioners say they never approved.

It called for the county to take over utility payments at the minimum-security jail from Resolutions, Community Solutions, in exchange for lower rates to house prisoners. The county paid $1.4 million before commissioners realized the county was making the payments.

After the savings from the rate change are subtracted, it still cost the county roughly $382,385, according to current County Administrator Tim Williams.

Resolutions runs the 200-plus-bed jail and provides services at all the county jails.

Williams was finance director then, but said he played no part in the deal — “I don’t recall being involved at all,” he said — but he has since reviewed the numbers and said they didn’t add up.

“When I look at the history prior to the change in the rates, it doesn’t bear out,” he said. “We were probably at a loss at the get-go.”

Commissioners say they approved the rate change, but were unaware of the utility change. It only came to light during budget meetings in the fall, they said.

“It was agreed to by the administration and Resolutions, but never came to the commission for discussion or analysis,” said Commissioner Gregory Jolivette.

Resolutions officials said they sent a letter to the county requesting the change, and that commissioners agreed to it. They can’t vouch for what was communicated to whom in the county.

“Everything we’ve ever done in 20 years has been submitted up there and they either act on it or don’t,’ said Resolutions Vice President Steve Best. “As far as we were concerned, everything was OK.”

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