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The one room in the Webster County Jail designed to keep people from hurting themselves has been torn open, cracked and beaten to the point that jail staff can no longer trust it.
"It's taken a beating," said Jail Administrator Mark Gargano. "We've struggled to keep people in there safely."
The Webster County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved spending roughly $24,000 to replace the safety padding in the jail’s padded cell, after Gargano showed nearly a dozen photographs of split walls, damaged doors, broken cameras and light fixtures, and padding ripped to pieces by inmates and people in mental health crisis.
The bid with Gold Medal Safety Padding from Florida, replaces a 2022 job Gargano described as shoddy work done by a contractor that is no longer in business. He told supervisors the jail’s detox cell will need the same attention.
"The number of people that need help continues to grow," said Gargano.
The supervisors also approved reducing the speed limit on South River Road north of 230th Street to 45 mph. According to Webster County Engineer Jamie Johll, this stretch of road is unpaved and in a semi-residential area with both vertical and horizontal curves without much sight distance. Both Johll and Supervisor Nathan Montgomery noted that the reduction in speed is being done for safety reasons.
The supervisors approved the increase of county costs for funerals from $800 to $1,250 and transportation fees to and from the State Medical Examiners Office from $300 to $400 per trip.
According to Rob Gunderson, who submitted a letter to the supervisors earlier this year on behalf of Gunderson Funeral Home, Laufersweiler Funeral Home, and Historic Bruce's Funeral Home, the increase in fees is needed due to the rise in fuel and staffing costs. Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll noted that the funeral fee is for qualifying individuals and indigent individuals.
The supervisors also approved the hiring of Tyler Schmidt as human resources director at a starting salary of $80,000, effective Aug. 3. Schmidt takes on the role vacated by Ted Vaughn last month.
The resignation of Ryan Kehm as Webster County drainage attorney was also received and placed on file. Kehm was recently named a district court judge by Gov. Kim Reynolds. He will serve Judicial District 2B which includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster and Wright counties.