Gadsden facing deadline to negotiate jail contract

The city of Gadsden has been given a deadline of Oct. 1 to reach an agreement on a jail contract with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office. The contract expired about two years ago, but the sheriff’s office has continued to house city inmates, which are all jailed for misdemeanor charges. City and county officials have been in negotiations for months but have not reached an agreement.  If no contract is reached, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said he would instruct the jail to stop taking those arrested by the city at midnight Sept. 30.  Entrekin said if Gadsden police officers arrest someone charged with a felony or with an existing felony warrant, that inmate will be accepted.  The contract only applies to those charged with misdemeanor crimes.  Entrekin said it is unlikely it would take more than a week for all the Gadsden inmates to be released as their sentences end. He said Gadsden inmates rarely are held more than 20 to 30 days.  Last year, the city paid the county $840,000 to house inmates. It is guaranteed 40 beds under the current contract.  This year, the contract is expected to increase to about $857,000, according to City Clerk Iva Nelson.  Councilman Thomas Worthy in March proposed the city build and operate a jail, but did not appear to get support from other city officials.  However, city officials have said they would like to reduce the number of guaranteed beds with the county.