This story first appeared in the Jan. 6 edition of the Newton Kansan.
For those staying in the Harvey County Hilton, there likely won’t be many visible changes in the food served in 2009.
But behind the scenes, food service is changing for the Harvey County Jail — dramatically.
Gone will be a monthly bonus for the sheriff, based on how much money is saved for meals.
“In the past, the sheriff has been paid a certain amount of money on top of his regular salary for food service at the jail,” said county administrator Craig Simons at Monday’s county commission meeting. “The sheriff gets $4.50 (per person) a day for feeding prisoners. If there is anything left after that, he’d get what was left.”
This policy, which has gone on for decades, has amounted to a bonus of between $16,000 and $28,000 annually, Simons said.
The jail meal menus are certified by a nutrionist. Menus obtained by the Kansan in August showed suppers include turkey fried steak, pizza and spaghetti for main courses.
Breakfast menus include pancakes with applesauce and cereal, waffles with fruit, and sausage gravy with toast.
At that time, Sheriff A.J. Wuthnow told the Kansan meals were costing about $3.50 per person per day.
“They use trustees to cook the food, so the food cost is pretty low,” Simons said.
“I like the idea that the inmates are cooking the food,” said Sheriff-elect T. Walton. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Current sheriff, Wuthnow, was not at the county commission meeting Monday.
However, he told the commission he does not want his salary tied to the food program in the jail.
He said after going to training and talking with other sheriffs around the state, that giving the sheriff the cash saved is a “gray area.”
“At first I thought it was money that went into programs,” Walton said. “But (Simons) said ‘It goes right into your pocket.’ I don’t want to take any money from that fund.”
Walton and Simons came up with a plan to do away with the program — one that gives the sheriff a raise and saves the county money in the process.
The commission agreed to the idea, increasing the sheriff’s base pay by more than $10,000 and agreeing to pay the true cost of feeding those in the jail.
The county will pay those costs directly to vendors using an invoice system.
