The Clarke County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on Monday, November 7, to terminate the contract with Cozette’s Restaurant pertaining to feeding inmates due to ongoing complaints about inmate food quality and disagreements between restaurant owners and jail staff. The terms of the contract state that the Board of Supervisors can terminate the contract with cause or without cause with a 90-day notice.
Cozette’s was awarded the year-long contract that began January 1, 2022, with an option for a second year after giving the lowest bid in the bid process. In September, owners Andre Davis and Carol Jones requested the second-year option, but were met with opposition from the Sheriff’s Department because of all the complaints about the food that had been made during the year.
“My recommendation is we terminate this contract and ask for a rebid on it,” stated Sheriff Todd Kemp. “It is nothing personal against y’all (Cozette’s), but we need to go in a different direction. I’m charged with the safety, care and well-being of these inmates while they are locked up in jail. We are not getting adequate meals for the inmates.”
Several meetings and/or discussions between Sheriff Kemp, Jail Administrator Barry White, and restaurant owners Davis and Jones were held this year to discuss the issues, but according to White, the issues would get better for a while, then go downhill again soon after.
“I think the pictures speak for themselves,” stated White. “I don’t care who feeds the inmates. All I want is those men and women who are locked up in our facility fed and fed good. It will be good for a few days, then it goes down. It’s something every day. Can we do better? I think we can.”
Both Davis and Jones disagreed with his comments.
“I met with Mr. Hammack two weeks ago— wonderful conversation,” said Davis. “He explained some things to me, and I explained some things to him. When I left, I was under the impression that we would meet with Todd or Barry; never happened. They have no intention of working with Cozette’s on this contract. Why I don’t know. I’ve never done anything to either one of them. Before Mr. White was released from the hospital, Sheriff Kemp and I had a wonderful conversation—very easy, no great stipulations or requirements. Me and my whole staff sit down with him. Three months later I get a call that Barry White was at the courthouse talking about how he’s going to get the contract taken away from us.”
White provided the Supervisors and Board Attorney Bill Hammack with photos of molded bread and inmate complaints of expired food or not enough food on the plates.
“I get my buns from Bimbo Bakery, and in order to put a bun on a plate, we have to touch that bun,” said Davis. “I don’t understand, when I stand there and tear these buns apart and hand them to my sister to put on a plate, that we not see that molded bun in that picture that was submitted (by the sheriff’s department) suggesting that Cozette’s Restaurant serves molded buns to the inmates.”
White explained his side of the argument to the board.
“At the last meetings, there were accusations made that we were planting stuff on trays,” said White. “Everything at the jail is under surveillance. We do not hoard food to let it mold. We search jail cells twice a day at each shift change. Any excess food that we find is thrown away. If we don’t it will create roaches and other critters. The only thing they are allowed is their canteen items.”
Davis and Jones both disputed all the claims except in circumstances where there were mistakes but were corrected immediately by their staff. They feel that Cozette’s is being treated unfairly by the sheriff’s department.
“Cozette’s has been required to do way more than the previous vendor,” stated Davis. “It’s not fair and it’s not right. Out of ten years of the previous vendor having the contract, how many times did he have to come to the board meeting to fight to keep the contract? How many times did Mr. Skidmore have to come to the board to keep his contract? What’s the difference between Cozette’s and Skidmores? He had errors; he made mistakes; he had complaints. How many times was a picture of his food submitted to the attorney of the board? Why is Cozette’s being treated differently? You can’t tell me out of 10 years that Matthew Skidmore did not miss the mark, but did he have to come defend his contract? What’s the difference between Matthew Skidmore and Andre Davis? One of us is black and one of us is white! Out of 10 years he (Skidmore) never had to come. Out of nine months, I’ve been here seven times.”
Sheriff Kemp stated in the meeting there are three lawsuits against the sheriff’s department about the food and also a complaint with the State Department of Justice.
“We have three lawsuits pending from inmates specifying in some of those lawsuits about the food and the quality they are getting,” added Kemp. “Do you know what it costs us to defend those three suits – about $10,000 a piece from your insurance carrier just to defend them. The evidence speaks for itself.”
Supervisors Paul Mosley and Joel Speed voted yes to terminate the contract without cause with a 90-day notice, and Darrick Marshall and Lorenzo Carter voted no. Board President Mickey Long voted yes with the tiebreaker vote.
“This is my opinion, and I don’t take anything lightly,” stated Supervisor Long. “I’ve looked at everything from top to bottom. This has come before us many times, and we still don’t have any rectifications. The pictures we saw doesn’t look good. We have a responsibility not just to our voters of Clarke County, our citizens and vendors, but to also our men and women in jail to see to it that they receive proper food. From what I’m hearing and seeing, I understand, there is conflict between Barry and Cozette’s. At the end of the day, we have to put good food in the cells for those prisoners, and that’s not happening from the pictures I am seeing here. My vote is to permeate with the 90 days without cause. I am voting with my conscience and what I think is right.”
The inmate feeding program will be advertised for re-bid in an upcoming issue of The Clarke County Tribune.
