The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Fiscal court, MCHC reach pact on inmate treatment



The inmates at the Letcher County Jail will soon receive necessary medical services from Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation of Whitesburg.

At its January meeting this week, the Letcher Fiscal Court approved entering into a contract with MCHC for medical services for inmates lodged in the jail. MCHC will succeed Whitesburg ARH Hospital which currently provides medical services for the inmates. Letcher County Attorney Jamie Hatton said Whitesburg ARH had requested to end its contract with the county for the jail’s medical services “for various reasons,” although he did not elaborate on those reasons.

Hatton told the court that since the Letcher County Jail is capable of, and actively houses state prisoners, the jail is required to have an agreement in place for medical services for all the facility’s inmates.

“We have to have someone to do it and Mountain Comp’s willing,” Hatton said.

Hatton said medical services provided to the jail’s inmates are considered “professional services” and thus do not require the contract to be placed up for bid. Although MCHC will provide medical services per the new agreement, Hatton said Whitesburg ARH will still provide emergency care when necessary for inmates lodged at the jail.

Letcher County Jailer Bert Slone complimented Whitesburg ARH for the services it has provided to the jail but told the court he believes MCHC will also provide quality care to the jail’s inmates.

“I know what we’ve had has been wonderful,” Slone said of Whitesburg ARH’s services. “But I’ve spoken with them (MCHC) several times and they seem to be really excited about coming in and taking care of business for us.”

The court’s action on the measure authorizes Letcher County Judge/Executive Terry Adams to negotiate and sign an agreement with MCHC for the medical services for the jail. MCHC’s contract with the county will begin effective February 1.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the first meeting of 2022, the court authorized County Attorney Jamie Hatton to move forward with beginning the process of rebidding for the county’s solid waste transportation and disposal. Per the court’s action, Hatton will finalize bid specifications and publish an advertisement for bids in The Mountain Eagle in hopes of receiving proposals for the solid waste transfer by the court’s February meeting.

The action is in response to a rate increase to the county by Somerset-based Watco LLC, a firm contracted to transport Letcher County’s solid waste to the Laurel Ridge Landfill in Laurel County and dump it there. The county was informed in October that its rate from Watco for its solid waste transportation out of the county was increasing by $1.45 per ton to a rate of $53.43 per ton. According to County Treasurer D.J. Frazier, that rate could add upwards of $2,000 per month onto the county’s cost for transporting the waste to the landfill.

The court also approved honoring U.S. Army Pvt. Winford Watts, whose name will be placed upon the Blackey Memorial Board.

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