KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan recently made a request to the Kershaw County Council asking to regain control over the detention center.
"It's not a matter of me personally wanting the jail back," Sheriff Lee Boan said. "It's for me doing the research and in my opinion that's in the best interest for Kershaw County for the sheriff to be over the jail."
On June 17th, Boan sent a letter to the county council chairman. It formally requested that he regain control of the Kershaw County Detention Center.
"It's always been in place where the sheriff is over the jails," Boan said.
But once a sheriff gives up control of the jail to the county, the county council then has to vote in order to give it back at the request of a sheriff.
"Three sheriffs ago, in the mid 80's, gave the jail up to the county," Boan said.
Since then, it has been in the county's custody. But Boan said with the retirement of the current jail administrator, Peggy Spivey, it could be an easy transition.
Boan said if he does get the jail, the two departments could merge and consolidate resources, but he doesn't plan on cutting anyone's job.
"I think I"m going to be able to cut some cost, but at the same time I don't intend to turn any money back in," Boan said. "I'd intend to take that money and put it towards salaries, not my salary, but the guys over at the jail their salary is really low. They are really hurting and they do a tough job."
He hopes higher salaries can keep the jail fully staffed and take some liability off the hands of the county. Councilman Jimmy Jones who is a previous jail administrator said he is all for it.
"I asked Sheriff Boan was he sure, why in the world would you want the jail , but he has a sense of responsibility for this community," Jones said. "There is no power struggle. If you go back and look at the history of the sheriffs, they run the jails, that's our history."
Meanwhile Councilman Al Bozard said he is more on the fence and is content with the way the county has been running the show.
"Getting a sheriff that's never run a jail before, that's one of my biggest concern," Bozard said. "Even though he's got a lot of experience, I'm not knocking that, I got no issues with that. He's never run a jail before, to my knowledge, because the county has run the jail, but the sheriff hasn't. I got no idea that he can't do a good job, I feel confident that he can, but that's one of my biggest issues."
Both Boan and some of the council said they will be fine either way and ultimately just want what is best for the residents.
Sheriff Boan plans to present why he wants the detention center on July 9th at the county council meeting.