At Tuesday afternoon’s Grayson County Fiscal Court meeting, Jailer Jason Woosley announced the Grayson County Detention Center is donating $250,000 to county government.
The Grayson County Detention Center, the only financially self-sufficient jail in Kentucky, is no stranger to lending a helping hand in the community. Whether it be Woosley donating inmate labor to help at the Leitchfield Animal Shelter, or assisting with expenses at the E911 Call Center, or donating vehicles and equipment to the sheriff’s office, county Road Department and county fire departments, he has always proved to be eager to help where he and his staff are able.
And not to be overlooked is the jail, at its expense, also paying for and building the new Grayson County Coroner’s Office (formerly barely larger than a walk-in closet). The jail is also currently providing labor as the sheriff’s office undergoes much-needed remodeling.
“As you all see, we’ve had a good year financially; hopefully that will continue,” Woosley told Fiscal Court. “With that being said, we’re just a few months from finishing up our fiscal year and we’re going to be well under our budget. And so I’d like to transfer $250,000 into your all’s fund from the jail fund. Hopefully that will help out with some of the issues you guys have been talking about for a few months. It doesn’t hurt us … I’m glad to be able to do it.”
An understandably pleased Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson, who has repeatedly spoken about the poor conditions of Grayson County’s roadways due to extended Arctic-like temperatures over the winter, gladly accepted Woosley’s generous gesture and recommended the $250,000 be transferred to the county’s Road Fund, something magistrates unanimously voted to approve.
“I just want to tell Jason I appreciate him … he knows that’s not his money; that’s taxpayer’s money,” Henderson said. “And he sees the need also; what the county needs at this time, and it’s infrastructure. I appreciate it, thank you for doing that, I really appreciate it.”
Woosley noted that without the support of the community, and his subordinates at the detention center, he would likely not be able to be so generous with the funds.
“(I) greatly appreciate the support of the community and you guys (Fiscal Court),” Woosley said. “We can’t do what we do without having that support. My staff is great and couldn’t do it without them. Having all that support makes my job a lot easier.”
Earlier in the meeting, Henderson asked for and received approval from magistrates to transfer $200,000 to the Road Fund from the General Fund. That money, coupled with the detention center’s donation, and another $60,000 recently allocated to the Road Fund from occupational taxes, should allow the county to begin updating and improving the nearly 800 miles in Grayson County roadways.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
