Commission votes to nix sheriff's jail plan

DARIEN - The McIntosh County Commission voted Tuesday to ask a judge to order Sheriff Thomas ``Chunk&#39;&#39; Jones to use a new $4 million jail rather than pay other counties to house prisoners. <br> <br> Jones has said he cannot operate the new jail without 16 additional employees. The commission has voted to provide Jones with four additional staffers and previously set a March 15 deadline for cutting off payments to other counties. <br> <br> Before Tuesday&#39;s vote to petitioning the Superior Court, Commission Chairman David Earl Lane said he was not voting to compel Jones to open the jail with an inadequate staff. <br> <br> ``We believe he has enough staff,&#39;&#39; Lane said. <br> <br> County Attorney Adam S. ``Ad&#39;&#39; Poppell III said he could file the petition as early as Wednesday. <br> <br> Jones did not attend yesterday&#39;s meeting and could not be reached for comment. The sheriff has said he would not endanger public safety by converting patrol officers to jailers.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197553