Jail to add new inmate-tracking system

Chatham County Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of a new inmate-tracking system for the jail at their biweekly meeting on Friday, which also included the issuing of a proclamation honoring G. John Parker as the county’s Veteran of the Year.

The Chatham County Detention Center’s new inmate-tracking system will initially cost $224,366, and then require an additional $102,000 annual maintenance cost for years two through five. According to Sheriff John Wilcher, this acquisition represents a major technological upgrade for the jail that will improve safety for inmates, officers, and staff.

“It [provides] a multitude of things that we really need in the jail,” Wilcher said after the meeting, referring to the wireless radio-frequency identification system that will be operated through bracelets worn by inmates and plastic cards carried by staff and officers. “It makes the officers accountable, too.”

The system, which will only be used for operations within the jail, provides complete information about every inmate, which can prevent incarcerated criminals from being mistakenly released, Wilcher said.

“It tells us everything” about an inmate’s physical description and mental-health background, Wilcher said, adding that the system offers other practical applications. “It’ll help us with our suicide watches.”

The new inmate-tracking system, to be provided by Guardian RFID, is expected to be installed and operational in 2020.

In other business, the county commissioners approved two rezoning requests. A 5.02-acre parcel on the south side of Ogeechee Road between Bradley Boulevard and Bamboo Farm Drive will be rezoned from residential-agriculture classification to neighborhood business classification, while parcels at 101 Middle Landing Road will be rezoned from residential-agriculture classification to neighborhood business classification.

The commissioners also approved a request to permit Atlanta Gas Light to use a portion of Chatham County’s 50-foot utility easement under the Savannah River for a new natural gas line to Hutchinson Island, aiming to assist the Georgia Ports Authority in future port development.

Additionally, the board approved an inter-governmental support agreement between Chatham County and the United States government to provide animal services for Hunter Army Airfield. Chatham County Animal Services will assist authorities on the base when animals need to be impounded. The county will be compensated with $175 per call when Animal Services is needed, which occurs most frequently to remove cats from the base, according to a staff report.

As Friday’s meeting fell at the outset of Veterans Day Weekend, the commissioners took this opportunity to issue a proclamation naming G. John Parker as the Veteran of the Year as bestown by the Veterans Council of Chatham County, comprised of 26 military veteran organizations. Master Sergeant Parker served for a total of 25 years with both the Marines and Air Force beginning in 1960, according to the proclamation.