We're ultimately responsible for their actions, but sometimes we have very little control over them. So working together and compromising is part of the process.
We approached it in a way that attempted to give the sheriff incentive to raise money. He doesn't like that approach.
The sheriff is elected to catch the bad guys, we are elected to ensure that there are sufficient funds to keep county government operating.
Knox County board of commissioners would support more flexibility, not less. You have to be responsible for tax dollars, as do we, but we'd appreciate more. One component may work well in one community, but not another.
In 2004 we attempted to meet with the sheriff quarterly and that didn't happen. In 2005, cooperation did improve. ... He met with us monthly and I think that helped.
Before we had the new jail we were paying rent (for prisoner housing) and we hoped after building the new jail we could be on the receiving end of that. And we have, somewhat, but we had hoped we would have more interest.
