MANSFIELD — The price of inmate meals in the Richland County Jail keeps rising.
But a smaller inmate population may lessen the impact to the county’s general fund.
The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a new food services contract with Summit Correctional Services at $2.24 per meal, based on 701 to 750 meals per day.
That’s a 10-percent increase from the $2.02 per meal the county was paying Trinity Services Group under a one-year contract signed in April.
However, less than three months after inking that pact, Trinity officials informed the county the company was exercising its right to “opt out” of the deal in 90 days, allowable under the deal.
Trinity officials notified the county at the time that “their submitted price was lower than they estimated by mistake,” according to county administrator Andrew Keller.
That sent Sheriff Steve Sheldon, Capt. Chris Blunk, the jail administrator, and Rachel Troyer, the county’s central purchasing coordinator scrambling to secure another contract for the 234-bed jail.
Three bids were received for the new contract, which will begin Oct. 14 and run through Sept. 20, 2025.
Trinity offered to provide the meals at $2.45 per meal. Aramark Correctional Services provided a bid at $2.32 per meal. Those offers made Summit the low bidder in the process.
Commissioners approved a jail food services budget of $596,000 for 2024, a 5-percent increase over 2023 and 10 percent more than in 2022.
But the average jail population in 2024 is trending under 200 inmates per day, according to Blunk.
Commissioner Tony Vero said the overall increase over budget may range between $45,000 and $60,000 for the year, based on current inmate population trends.
“Right now, I’m not looking at changing or requesting any funds for the food services line,” Blunk said.
In its request for proposals, Keller said the county requested a 120-day opt-out in the new contract, which was not obtained during negotiations.
“Honestly, I think they would have preferred even fewer than 90 days, just because it’s a dynamic industry. But we have to draw the line at 90 days because we need that time minimum to go through the procurement process in the event of an unexpected termination,” Keller said.
Inmates each receive a cold breakfast and hot lunches and dinners, according to Blunk.
The food services contract includes the 80-bed Community Alternative Center on Park Avenue East.
