LULA — Lula officials learned Monday afternoon they will lose the city's inmate work detail as of the end of this week.
City Manager Dennis Bergin said he received notice Monday afternoon from Warden Walt Davis that rather than Hall County provide four inmates, a correctional officer and a vehicle for a set contracted amount each year, the county now wants Lula to hire a correctional officer and provide a vehicle for transport of the work detail.
Council members asked Bergin to lay out on paper a comparison of the costs for the city providing its own correctional officer, at a starting salary of $17.67 per hour plus benefits, and a vehicle versus hiring additional personnel for the city's public works department.
Bergin said the inmate work details does a lot of work in the city, including trimming and other outside maintenance.
Councilman Garnett Smith said he believes it might be more economical to hire two additional city employees.
The council agreed to hear comparison figures from Bergin at a later date, possibly at a called meeting.
“The council heard that first today because we heard it first today,” Bergin said. “So we’ll see how that matures and what opportunities might present themselves.”
In the meantime, Lula will lose its current inmate work detail on Friday, Bergin said.
