LEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Inmate mental health on agenda

Aug. 16--SANFORD -- Better connecting inmates with mental health resources and a potential loan to the Raleigh Executive Jetport are among the major items on the Lee County Board of Commissioners' agenda Monday.

"There's been a lot of issues about people falling through cracks in the mental health system," said Lee County Manager John Crumpton. "And what happens is they end up in jail instead of getting the mental health services they need."

The "Stepping Up Initiative" is a national program focused on decreasing the number of people with mental health disorders in prisons, and the commissioners will vote on a resolution in support of the initiative.

"A lot of [inmates] do have mental health problems," said Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter. "And it's not something you can ignore. We started a program awhile back where they can meet with their mental health services provider via video so we don't have to take them out of the jail. It's a lot easier for us, a lot safer for us and for the inmates, to do it that way."

Crumpton said the N.C. Association of County Commissioners was working with the National Association of Counties, which operates the initiative, to research the problem of prisoners with mental illnesses.

"The [NCACC] is trying to get counties to help them put together data that would justify going to the N.C. Legislature and telling them they need to make a change [concerning mental health services in jails]," Crumpton said. " ... There's been a push to try to get the legislature to address that more with mental health reform."

Crumpton said the commissioners also would discuss a potential loan to the Raleigh Executive Jetport on Rod Sullivan Road on Monday.

"We have a waiting list at the airport that's approaching 50," Crumpton said. "We're going to build I believe 28 T hangars for smaller planes. ... We're also looking at a grant they were awarded for taxiway widening. That requires some matching funds."

The board also will consider:

-- An easement to Duke Energy Progress for the purpose of installing and maintaining electrical service to the convenience center in Lemon Springs.

-- An update on the Building Integrated Communities project.

-- The purchase of new vehicles for senior services, social services and general services.

-- The purchase of an electronic medical records system.

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