The Commissioners Court awarded Tuesday the contract for inmate telephone service at the Orange County Jail to Global Tel*Link Corporation. Sheriff Keith Merritt said he thought the offer was a good one for the county.
Commissioners also renewed the agreement for another year between the county and Sholars Medicine Chest for bulk prescription drugs at the jail. There will be no changes in the agreement according to County Purchaser Connie Cassidy.
The 163rd District Court was approved to purchase a new laptop computer to replace a 2008 model that no longer works. The cost of the new laptop will be a little over $1200.
Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning met with the Commissioners in a closed session to discuss the lawsuit between Orange County and former Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Gunter. Manning informed that Gunter previously worked in the Sheriff’s Office before being terminated by Sheriff Merritt. Gunter then went to arbitration which ruled in his favor. The county then sued in district court citing that the arbitrator exceeded his jurisdiction.
The visiting judge from Livingston hearing the case was asked to make a summary judgment on Thursday by both sides in the case according to Attorney Manning. Although the judge has not signed the requests, Manning indicated the judge did grant the county’s request and denied Gunter’s.
Social Media