12.18.08
Commissioners likely to renew CCA’s contract to run T. Don Hutto
Their rationalizations for their likely votes are weak at best, Commissioners to vote on contract to operate T. Don Hutto.
That contract is set to expire Jan. 31, but County Judge Dan A. Gattis announced at Tuesday’s court meeting that a vote to renew the contract will be on the agenda for the Dec. 23 meeting. That agenda has not been posted yet.
Gattis and commissioner Ron Morrison, whose precinct includes the detention facility, said they are leaning toward renewing the contract. Precinct 1 Commissioner Lisa Birkman said she was undecided. Calls to Cynthia Long and Valerie Covey have not been returned.
“I’m leaning to renew because I did the last time,” Morrison said. Commissioners voted to renew the contract in October of 2007. “I based it on touring the facility and looking at the situation. I like the idea that families stay together, are fed, clothed and in a comfortable place — as comfortable as an ex-prison can be. You can’t hide the fact that it was once a jail cell.”
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“Unless something jumps up and bites me, I will vote to renew,” Gattis said. “I think we’re going to need time to assess what the administration wants to do, and we’ll support what they want.”
Birkman, who voted for renewing the contract in 2007 “with reservations,” said she understands the reasons for the facility. “But on the other hand, I would feel more comfortable if they were not in a prison setting,” she said.
Of the three, of five, from the WCGOP WCCC that gave responses it seems: Morrison is a yes, doesn’t want to be appear to be a flip-flopper; Gattis is a yes unless someone puts a tack in his chair and; Birkman is a waffler and can’t make up her mind. That’s two for, one maybe…maybe not. It’s probably pretty safe to assume that at least Covey will vote to keep incarcerating children in Taylor, and that means Long can vote her conscience.
It’s sad that two days before Christmas our elected officials will treat mothers and their children in this way. The paralells to story familiar to many, especially Christians, is striking. Put forth in this statement by Milton Jordan, retired United Methodist minister, which was delivered December 7, 2008 on the steps of the Williamson County Courthouse, Nativity and Immigration. Hopefully they will see the paralell as well.