Jailers wanted billboards approved

Dec. 28—County officials hope billboards will help mitigate the county's jailer shortage and stem the flow of overtime payments being used to fill current shift shortages.

The Johnson County Commissioners Court on Monday approved tapping $20,000 from the county's reserve fund to pay for three billboards and additional social media outreach efforts.

While $20,000 might seem a lot, it's substantially less than the cost of running monthly help wanted ads not to mention overtime costs, County Personnel Director Randy Gillespie pointed out.

Commissioners approved a $500,000 transfer earlier this month to cover overtime pay for the county's current jailers.

The Johnson County Jail needs to hire about 55 jailers, Jail Administrator David Blankenship told commissioners.

Pay begins at $21.13 per hour in addition to fully covered healthcare and a two-for-one match retirement package with a guaranteed 7 percent return.

Previous law enforcement experience is not required though applicants must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must also undergo a background check, be finger printed, drug screened and have no felony or Class A convictions.

"Good character is the key thing," Sheriff Adam King said.

The shortage is hardly unique to Johnson County — Tarrant County recently leased a billboard in Johnson County advertising for jailers — to jails, King and other county officials said.

"Driving around you see help wanted signs everywhere right now," King said. "I think it's a social phenomenon going on right now that they're calling the great resignation. People don't want to come to work and many of those who do will just resign or quit a the drop of a hat."

Johnson County Jail Assistant Brian Gordy earlier this month noted that 4.2 million people quit working nationwide in November, according to employment numbers.

"We've had problems with people applying just to keep their unemployment running," Blankenship said. "But really, we're looking for people with honesty, integrity, responsibility and willing to show up and show up on time."

And yet, King and others said, starting as a jailer is a great pathway to finding out if law enforcement is the right career for you and a great start toward becoming a deputy or police officer. Current jail staff range from 18 to 80, King said, adding that retirees, veterans and disabled veterans are welcome to apply as are others.

The shortage leads to safety issues for jailers and inmates, King said.

The current shortage also results in a Catch-22 situation.

"They want to work that overtime right now because Christmas is coming," King said earlier this month. "But after the holidays they're going to want a break and you get into burnout and safety issues.

"Financially, it's not really an issue just yet because the positions that are vacant are paying for the overtime and the people filling those shifts, so it's kind of a wash. But that can't go on indefinitely."

It's difficult at best to address those problems until more jailers are hired, Blankenship said.

"It's hard to give the jailers we have now a break until we get more people hired," Blankenship said. "We fall under jail standards and those require us to have so many positions filled per inmate. We have to meet those standards for Texas Jail Standards and can't fall below those requirements."

The money commissioners approved on Monday will pay for one-year leases on billboards along Interstate 35W coming into Johnson County and U.S. 67 and Texas 174 coming into Cleburne. Additional money, about $1,000, will be used to target specific demographic groups on social media.

The sheriff's office has already place several help wanted banners throughout the county.

"I don't see any way around it," Commissioner Rick Bailey said in voting to approve the funding. "They've got to get additional staff in there and we have to cut this overtime expenditure."

In other news, King reported that renovation of the sheriff's office administration building is moving ahead.

"A lot of people back there working and it looks like they're making a lot of progress," King said.

The administration building has grown overcrowded over the years. The renovation, which county reserve funds paid for, will reconfigure former storage and other areas of the building to add more office, training and conference space.

Dedicated service

Commissioners opened Monday's meeting by presenting a plaque of appreciation to Joy Penney who is set to retire after 31 years of service to the county.

Penney works for the 18th District Court but worked for several county departments during her tenure.

Penney thanked the commissioners as well as former 18th District Court Judge John Neill and current Judge Sydney Hewlett.

"Johnson County is really a pretty good place to work," Penney said. "I've worked with many of you in several different aspects and learned a lot."

County Judge Roger Harmon said it's always sad to see good employees retire.

"You've done an outstanding job," Harmon told Penney. "Thanks for 31 years of loyal, dedicated service."