By Tim Hudson
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Okla. — The Board of Washington County Commissioners gave the year-old county jail facilities a glowing report following a tour Monday. The tour was the commissioners’ second since the facility’s construction and opening in 2011.
According to District 3 commissioner and Board chair Mike Dunlap, commissioners were “extremely pleased” with the jail and its operations.
“I feel like I want to brag,” Dunlap told the Examiner-Enterprise. “The place was spotless inside.”
At the time of the tour, 197 inmates were being housed at the facility - a far cry from its capacity of 270, but significantly more than the former facility allowed. Prior to the construction of the new facilities, the jail was located in the basement of the Washington County Courthouse.
“We are really, really pleased with the operation over there,” Dunlap said. “The maintenance director, Kevin Farley, has done a tremendous job. We are operating well and within budget.”
Washington County Undersheriff Steve Johnson said the new facility has helped with personnel as well.
“Our (employment) turnover has gone down since we came into the new building, and it’s due to the new environment,” Johnson said.
“The new facility is a tremendous asset to the county and the sheriff’s office in terms of making us more efficient and getting things done.”
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