By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department will begin the process of hiring new jail staff positions soon than expected.

At Monday’s County Commission meeting, the commission approved the immediate recruiting, testing and hiring of three new jailers.

The county had previously approved the funds for the three new staff positions in the 2017, but Sheriff Ed Harbin said Monday because of the increased population, they need more staff.

“We’ve more than doubled our inmate capacity in there,” and Harbin said. “Due to all the events that go on — court, dealing with inmates, medical (and) things along that line — we just need more staffing.

“We tried it with less, it’s not working.”

The remodeled jail now holds about 70 inmates. Before the remodel, the jail held approximately 35.

Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes estimated it will cost approximately $32,000 to add the three positions through the end of the year. The county budgeted $146,000 for the added positions in 2017.

Harbin said Wednesday his office already had a number of applications on file, some from experienced law enforcement officers, and testing of qualified applicants will begin in the next couple of weeks.