The daily newspaper’s headline on jail transfer workshop held yesterday is “Escambia County Jail talks hit impasse.” We wrote that Interim County Administrator George Touart was looking for 40 percent of the administrative budget of the sheriff’s office.
According to Touart’s post in the comments section for our article on the meeting, the impasse has been broken and he doesn’t want any percentage of the sheriff’s budget:
“Rick you are well aware that your arrival was not correct today. You could have very easily come to the meeting but rather chose to once again print whatever you want and not the truth. The meeting was recorded and you are well aware that I said I was not in favor of taking any precentage (sic) of the Sheriffs budget. For some reason you chose to print what you know was not the truth. In addition I have told you if you want to know something from me you have my number.”
Apparently the Independent News and the Pensacola News Journal—and also Chief Deputy Eric Haines— misinterpreted Touart’s position. The Sheriff’s budget for 2013-2014 budget will stay in tact, according to Touart’s post.
Jeremy Morrison will request an interview with Mr. Touart on the jail transfer. Previous requests by our reporter to speak with Mr. Touart have been denied, but the administrator now appears to be willing to talk with our paper.
Jesse Farthing, our reporter who covered the workshop, will request the tapes of the meeting and we will review them to ensure that Mr. Touart was quoted correctly.