The county is considering bringing back the inmate program at Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center.

During the county Health and Welfare Committee meeting Tuesday night Animal Control director Sherri Bradley says they are struggling to hire a parttime employee at $9 an hour. Commissioner Tommy Savage asked if the jail inmates were still coming and working.

“At one time the trusties were doing work down here. Are they not anymore?” asked Savage.

“We have talked about it for the past three years that I have been here and they just keep telling me we need training,” said Bradley.

Commissioners mentioned to County Executive-Elect Terry Bell, who was in attendance, they would like to look into getting this program restarted.

“That is something we would like to get back going again if at all possible,” said Commissioner Blaine Wilcher. “Even if it is two or three hours a morning.”

McMinnville Animal Control officer David Denton was also present and said they ran into problems with people hiding contraband when they did this program in the past.

“One of the problems they had before was the inmates’ family was bringing contraband down and stuffing it in holes and hiding it for them,” said Denton.

“They could be searched when they leave,” said Bradley.

“It would be best not to have visitors when they were here,” added Savage.

“We talked about them not being here during the normal hours and have them cleaning before it is even open,” said Wilcher.

Denton explained the contraband was left before the inmates arrived and they would be notified where it would be. Commissioner Kasey Owens said the sheriff would most likely be able to determine which inmates would be able to participate in this program.

“Well Jackie may decide on the inmates. If they don’t have a drug problem or something like that than it could probably cut down on that,” said Owens.

A decision on restarting the program was not made at this meeting, but they plan on revisiting it at a later time.

“I think we could find all kinds of reasons not to do anything,” said Wilcher.