WS Chronicle

Forsyth County commissioners approved paying more to Aramark for food services at the Forsyth County Detention Center, but also requested to rebid that service at the earliest opportunity.

During a meeting on Thursday, March 1, commissioners approved Aramark’s request to increase the amount the county pays for its jail services from the $1,174,000 in its contract to $1,242,000. This increase of $68,000 is attributed to the kitchen renovation project at the jail and an increased inmate population.

In its contract, Aramark can ask for an increase in food plate prices because it has to use mobile operations due to renovations. Originally it was believed it would be a 3-cent increase per plate but when the details of the renovations became more certain, that increase was upped to 14 cents a plate. The renovations are expected to last 20 weeks and the increase is supposed to cover increased labor costs of supervising the mobile kitchen and plating area as well as the costs associated with a menu change. Also, the inmate population is up 11 percent from last year.

County Commissioner Vice Chair Don Martin questioned if the increase in cost should have been that much. He suggested rebidding the contract at the earliest opportunity and the other commissioners agreed.

“After five years in a competitive industry, I think its time to rebid the jail service,” said Martin.

County Manager Dudley Watts said he’d have staff look into when that could happen and if it can be done without adverse effects. Aramark’s original contract was approved in 2012 for three years, with seven one-year extensions, the latest of which runs out on June 30 of this year.

Also during the Thursday’s meetings:

*Commissioners approved $179,038 in incentives over five years to Clearing House Payments Company LLC to expand its local facility by investing at least $24,614,000 in machinery and equipment and creating 50 full-time or full-time equivalent jobs with an average wage of $98,361 a year.

*They also voted to give $1.5 million to the Smith Reynolds Airport so it can receive matching state and federal funds for moving one taxiway, extending another taxiway and removing a terrain obstruction near a runway. The county funds have zero percent interest for up to 10 years.

*The commissioners gave the future Idols Road business park a tentative name, which is the Tanglewood Business Park.

*Martin said he’d like to renew discussion on his quarter cent county sales tax idea during today’s briefing because he said he’d had positive feedback from businesses leaders on the idea.