County commissioners make commitment to reduce the number of seriously mentally ill jail inmates

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment toward reducing the number of seriously mentally ill people in jail.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office asked commissioners during their weekly meeting to join the national Stepping Up Initiative, which aims to seek treatment alternatives to jail for those classified as seriously mentally ill.

The proclamation request came in conjunction with the county’s ongoing work for a potential jail expansion and mental health crisis intervention center projects, said Mike Brouwer, re-entry director for the sheriff’s office.

“I’m so grateful for all the work you’ve done,” County Commissioner Nancy Thellman said to Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern. “You have our commitment, and, boy, it’s a lot easier to commit to such a big and important program when you know the people behind it are doing great work.”

After the commissioners’ proclamation McGovern spoke to them about a nearly $200,000 grant the sheriff’s office was awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in September.

That grant will enable the sheriff’s office to hire two Assess-Identify-Divert (AID) case managers, who will technically be employees of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Brouwer said. Those case managers will assess around 50 potential inmates a month and divert an estimated 25 to treatment alternatives to jail, he said.

Although a check for the grant money isn’t expected until January Brouwer said in the months to come the sheriff’s office will work with Bert Nash and Kansas University to create job descriptions and write policies for the positions that will soon be open.

The sheriff’s office, county officials and other community partners will host a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., McGovern added. That meeting will offer more insight into the potential projects and give area residents a chance to ask officials any questions they might have.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting:

  • Commissioners approved an engineering services agreement for the 2016 inspection of county bridges.
  • Commissioners approved treating Lone Star Lake with low doses of herbicide to combat an invasive plant species.
  • Commissioners approved waiving a formal bidding process authorizing staff to contract an annual maintenance agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc., for current radio systems.

County commissioners meet each Wednesday at 4 p.m. Full agendas for their meetings and more information can be found online at www.douglascountyks.org.