Franklin County commissioners and Sheriff Zach Scott have settled on a company that will examine whether the sheriff's operations are well-run and sufficiently funded.
Commissioners expressed their support yesterday for an $89,000 contract with Voorhis Associates Inc., a company Scott chose to perform a management study. Commissioners will formally vote on the measure during their weekly meeting on Tuesday.
Scott and county officials debated a management study for weeks. But the sheriff formally proposed the study after he was presented with a Dispatch analysis that found that deputies were accruing large amounts of compensatory time and overtime that were costing the county millions of dollars.
Scott and commissioners argued recently over how much money to dedicate to sheriff's operations this year. Scott requested $98 million, but commissioners approved a smaller increase -- $87 million out of their $300.7 million budget -- and made Scott agree to a hiring freeze.
"We are looking forward to reviewing any new management techniques, policies and procedures that we may have overlooked these past few years, and we are committed to implementing any new methods that will provide the best service without compromising the safety of our citizens as well as our law-enforcement officers," Scott said in a letter to commissioners requesting the study.
He said he selected Voorhis, based in Colorado, because the consultant has extensive knowledge of law enforcement and has a good reputation. County Administrator Don Brown and commissioners agreed after numerous meetings and discussions about the company.
"I think it's time (for a study) and appreciate the sheriff's leadership on this," Commissioner Paula Brooks said yesterday.
State law allows contracts dealing with criminal-justice services to be awarded without an open-bid process.
No operating money will be used for the study. The sheriff's office and commissioners are splitting the cost through a fund from the sale of seized assets and another one for materials and services.
Voorhis' consultants are expected to begin on March 5 and complete the study by Dec. 31.
A steering committee will be established to hear ideas from county administration and Scott's office on what should be examined. Commissioners John O'Grady and Marilyn Brown said they will not settle for anything less than a thorough dissection of the sheriff's operations.
Jim Gilbert, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, said he has advised deputies to cooperate with the study.
"We will let them do their study," he said. "We are anxiously awaiting like everyone else what the outcome is going to be."
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