Lee County, IA – The South Iowa Area Detention Service Agency currently has eight member counties.
Appanoose
Davis
Des Moines
Jefferson
Lee
Lousia
Mahaska
Wapello
The agency oversees the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center, a 21-bed facility located along Highway 61 next to the Lee County Correctional Center.
The member counties and several neighboring counties pay the agency to house juveniles at the facility as they await trial.
Supervisor Larry Kruse represents Lee County on the SIADSA board.
He says Appanoose County wants out of the 28E agreement that exists between the counties.
"Because they have decided to send their juveniles to El Dora," says Kruse, "where they pay $50/day versus the $160/day that we charge."
Kruse says the El Dora facility receives more in state reimbursements, due to the number of other programs, so it can offer the lower price.
Kruse says Appanoose County wants to take 1/8 of the agency's assets with it. He says that would amount to about $125,000.
Kruse says Appanoose county leaders have said they are willing to go to court to get it.
He says the seven other member counties oppose giving Appanoose County the money if it leaves the SIADSA.
That type of financial hit would severely hurt the Lee County facility at a time when revenue is down due to low population.
Kruse says there was a previous amendment to the original 28E agreement would have prevented a county from walking away with agency assets.
He says a clerical error led to the 1999 amendment not being finalized.