By Tom Davis
Correspondent
DAYTON, Tenn. — Rhea County Jail Committee members expect to visit a neighboring county’s jail in the coming week as they work to meet a state-imposed deadline to show progress at their overcrowded jail.
County Commission Chairman Ronnie Raper said a letter detailing the county’s efforts “has to go out by the first” of November to the state Correction Commission.
State officials cited the county in September for having an overcrowded jail and imposed a Nov. 1 deadline for a progress report, threatening to decertify the jail if the schedule is not met.
County Executive George Thacker said Sheriff Mike Neal had called before the commission’s regular meeting, asking if committee members planned to visit another county’s jail.
“We need to,” Raper responded. “I want to put in the letter that we have visited a jail.”
Members of the committee are working to develop a comprehensive plan, including a timeline, to relieve jail overcrowding.
In other matters, commissioners authorized the county executive to seek bids to sell waste oil collected at county convenience centers.
“We’ve been getting about 5 cents a gallon (for the oil),” Raper said. “We think we can get about 75 cents a gallon” through a bid process.
Tom Davis is based in Rhea County. E-mail him at tsdavis@volstate.net.