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Commissioner John Price, who initially proposed exploring cost savings through inmate transfers, made the motion to reinstate the detention center. Commissioner Albert Nickerson seconded, and Commission President Ron Fithian voted in favor.

The decision came after Price withdrew a request for closed session made earlier in the day, opting instead for public discussion of the facility’s future.

“I have said previously that if I get to a point and I believe it’s not in the best interest of the county to move forward, that I would be the first one to make the motion to reinstate the detention center back to its operating model,� Price said before making the motion.

The vote followed a lengthy discussion of financial projections, staffing models and logistical concerns about housing Kent County inmates at facilities in Queen Anne’s, Cecil, Talbot or Dorchester counties.

Fiscal concerns drive debateCounty Finance Officer Pat Merritt presented three cost scenarios based on different per-diem rates ranging from $96 to $125 per inmate per day. Using a six-month average of 36 inmates and a proposed 18-employee staffing model, projected savings ranged from $231,000 to $612,000 annually.

However, Fithian emphasized the county has already achieved significant savings through staff reductions from 28 to 21 employees — a 25% workforce reduction representing approximately $840,000 in annual savings based on the county’s average cost of $120,000 per employee for salary and benefits.

“Try that with any other department in Kent County,� Fithian said. “What other department is going to step up to the plate and say, ‘We can save $840,000’? I don’t think you’ll find one.�

Price countered that his financial analysis suggested potential savings approaching $1 million under certain scenarios, though he acknowledged numerous variables remained unknown.

“These numbers were pretty spot on. It was just one of my best guesses,� Price said.

Loss of leverage cited as concernFithian repeatedly expressed concern about losing negotiating power once the county eliminated its detention capacity.

“Right now, somebody wants to charge us $150 a person, we can say, ‘To hell with that, we’ll keep them ourselves,’� Fithian said. “When we don’t have the facility to handle them, the only thing we’re going to be able to say is yes, sir, we’ll send you a check.�

The commission president also noted the burden on families visiting incarcerated relatives if inmates were housed as far away as Elkton in Cecil County.

Operational challenges outlinedDetention Center Director Corey Shepard and Sheriff Dennis Hickman detailed numerous logistical concerns, including transportation costs, medical emergencies, suicide risks and the challenges of finding facilities willing to accept all inmates.

Shepard said Queen Anne’s County, which has been housing some Kent inmates at $125 per day during a pilot program, might not accept certain individuals.

“Those are the things that you run into with these detention centers,� Shepard said. “Even though you might have a contract, they say, ‘No, you’re going to take them anyway,’ then they say no, then what leg do you have to stand on in that process?�

Sheriff Hickman noted Talbot County has only two cells for high-risk inmates and has seen its population increase from 40 to 60.

Overtime concerns addressedPrice raised questions about overtime costs, which increased from $37,537 in 2021 to $140,352 in 2024. He noted four correctional officers consistently worked more than $10,000 in overtime annually.

Shepard attributed the increases to the 25% staff reduction, mandatory 24-hour hospital supervision for inmates, vacation time that would otherwise be forfeited, and a hiring freeze preventing the addition of part-time staff.

“You can’t predict if you’re short-staffed, you have people going to the hospital,� Shepard said. “We’re stressed thin and these people aren’t complaining about coming in. They’re doing their job.�

Commissioners find common groundDespite their disagreements on strategy, all three commissioners emphasized their shared goals of fiscal responsibility and employee welfare.

“I think it’s big of John to make that motion and I respect him highly for doing so,� Fithian said after the vote. “The three of us agree 99.9% of the time, but when we don’t, we’ve been put here not to be rubber stamps.�

Price said he had fulfilled his duty by exploring potential savings.

“I think I’ve done my job by bringing it forward as a county commissioner, as a potential saving for our taxpayers,� Price said. “I feel I’ve done that.�

Nickerson praised both commissioners and staff for the information presented while acknowledging uncertainty about too many variables to move forward with outsourcing.

“I have personally learned a ton,� Nickerson said. “But I do — there are a lot of questions, I think, that I still have.�

The commissioners scheduled a closed session to discuss reorganizing personnel oversight at the detention center. They also plan to revoke a resolution that had temporarily placed Sheriff Hickman in charge of detention operations.

The detention center debate had grown increasingly contentious in recent weeks.

“It was a great exercise,� Fithian said Monday night. “We can say that we saved this county $840,000 and that ain’t nothing to sneeze at.