Officials attend Citizens for Justice Barry County meeting
November 8, 2023
Photo and Story by Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
Barry County and State officials gathered last Friday night at the Stumpff’s Pavillion in Cassville to answer citizens questions.
Citizens For Justice-Barry County gathered last Friday at the Stumpff’s Pavillion in Cassville for the second time this year to discuss the drug problem, increased crime in Barry County, and the incorporation of Neighborhood Watch programs.
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd, Northern Commissioner Gary Schad, Presiding Commissioner Steve Blankenship, and State Representative Scott Cupps were on hand to answer questions and discuss the shortage of staff at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, the increased budget the Sheriff’s office will receive due to the 1/2 cent sales tax voted in last year to support law enforcement, what is happening at the state level for law enforcement and what we can do as citizens to support local law enforcement. A representative of Senator Mike Moon, Wheaton Police Officer Cody Stephens, and Barry County Undersheriff Angela Cole were also in attendance. Southern Commissioner Gene Robbins and Prosecutor Amy Boxx were unavailable due to previous commitments.
Sheriff Boyd discussed the current shortage of law enforcement, which isn’t just a problem in Barry County but nationwide. The state of Missouri alone needs more than 1,000 officers, according to Sheriff Boyd. State Representative Scott Cupps reiterated the statistics. Currently, the Sheriff’s office has four patrol officers to cover 791 square miles, protecting a 24,712 population, according to the 2020 census. The Sheriff’s office responded to 195 calls for the week of October 30-November 5 alone. With the 1/2 cent sales tax increase for law enforcement, which should begin with the 2024 budget, Sheriff Boyd’s goal is to increase the number of deputies on the streets and retain them. He stated he would like to see a minimum of eight to cover the needs of citizens but has a three-year goal to increase that number to ten. Sheriff Boyd is looking into academy tuition contracts used in other southwest Missouri counties for recruitment.
Another issue discussed was the deteriorating condition of the current jail and how the new $17.5 million state-of-the-art jail will increase the inmate housing to 110 plus from the current capacity of 42. Construction of the new jail has a tentative completion date of August 2024. It is important to note that the Stone County Jail currently houses 20 Barry County prisoners at approximately $33,000 monthly, according to Northern Commissioner Gary Schad.
Commissioner Schad spent most of the meeting trying to be transparent with county finances. He wanted to clarify what comes from the general revenue, the 1/2 cent sales tax for law enforcement, and what the 3% marijuana tax passed earlier this year will be used for. According to Schad, the building of the new jail will come from general revenue, and commissioners hope to have that paid off within seven years. After the funding for the jail is complete, those funds in the general budget will again be used for law enforcement. The 1/2 cent sales tax for law enforcement, passed in April of 2022 and has seen $2,300,420 collected since October 2022, will begin being used in the 2024 budget. This funding will be used in the prosecutor’s office, the Sheriff’s office, and the jail. This month will be the first month the county will see funds from the 3% marijuana tax passed in April 2023. Those funds will be distributed in the 2025 budget and used for law enforcement.
State Representative Scott Cupps closed the meeting. He explained the difference between legislation and judicial branches and asked citizens to think outside the box and understand Barry County does not have a theft problem. We have a drug epidemic that has turned into a theft epidemic, and the lack of law enforcement is not just in Barry County; it is nationwide, and what we need is criminal justice reform.
Barry County Commissioners are available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Barry County Courthouse in Cassville to answer any questions or concerns citizens may have.
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd can be reached at 417-847-6556. State Representative Scott Cupps can be reached at 573-751-1488 or [email protected].
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd, Northern Commissioner Gary Schad, Presiding Commissioner Steve Blankenship, and State Representative Scott Cupps were on hand to answer questions and discuss the shortage of staff at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, the increased budget the Sheriff’s office will receive due to the 1/2 cent sales tax voted in last year to support law enforcement, what is happening at the state level for law enforcement and what we can do as citizens to support local law enforcement. A representative of Senator Mike Moon, Wheaton Police Officer Cody Stephens, and Barry County Undersheriff Angela Cole were also in attendance. Southern Commissioner Gene Robbins and Prosecutor Amy Boxx were unavailable due to previous commitments.
Sheriff Boyd discussed the current shortage of law enforcement, which isn’t just a problem in Barry County but nationwide. The state of Missouri alone needs more than 1,000 officers, according to Sheriff Boyd. State Representative Scott Cupps reiterated the statistics. Currently, the Sheriff’s office has four patrol officers to cover 791 square miles, protecting a 24,712 population, according to the 2020 census. The Sheriff’s office responded to 195 calls for the week of October 30-November 5 alone. With the 1/2 cent sales tax increase for law enforcement, which should begin with the 2024 budget, Sheriff Boyd’s goal is to increase the number of deputies on the streets and retain them. He stated he would like to see a minimum of eight to cover the needs of citizens but has a three-year goal to increase that number to ten. Sheriff Boyd is looking into academy tuition contracts used in other southwest Missouri counties for recruitment.
Another issue discussed was the deteriorating condition of the current jail and how the new $17.5 million state-of-the-art jail will increase the inmate housing to 110 plus from the current capacity of 42. Construction of the new jail has a tentative completion date of August 2024. It is important to note that the Stone County Jail currently houses 20 Barry County prisoners at approximately $33,000 monthly, according to Northern Commissioner Gary Schad.
Commissioner Schad spent most of the meeting trying to be transparent with county finances. He wanted to clarify what comes from the general revenue, the 1/2 cent sales tax for law enforcement, and what the 3% marijuana tax passed earlier this year will be used for. According to Schad, the building of the new jail will come from general revenue, and commissioners hope to have that paid off within seven years. After the funding for the jail is complete, those funds in the general budget will again be used for law enforcement. The 1/2 cent sales tax for law enforcement, passed in April of 2022 and has seen $2,300,420 collected since October 2022, will begin being used in the 2024 budget. This funding will be used in the prosecutor’s office, the Sheriff’s office, and the jail. This month will be the first month the county will see funds from the 3% marijuana tax passed in April 2023. Those funds will be distributed in the 2025 budget and used for law enforcement.
State Representative Scott Cupps closed the meeting. He explained the difference between legislation and judicial branches and asked citizens to think outside the box and understand Barry County does not have a theft problem. We have a drug epidemic that has turned into a theft epidemic, and the lack of law enforcement is not just in Barry County; it is nationwide, and what we need is criminal justice reform.
Barry County Commissioners are available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the Barry County Courthouse in Cassville to answer any questions or concerns citizens may have.
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd can be reached at 417-847-6556. State Representative Scott Cupps can be reached at 573-751-1488 or [email protected].
