The cities of Byrnes Mill and Pevely have approved a jail sharing agreement.
Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio said the police department needed a place to temporarily hold those being held on domestic violence charges.
Byrnes Mill does not have a jail and previously held a jail housing arrangement with the city of Arnold, Selvaggio said. The agreement with Arnold, which had been in place for several years, has expired.
The Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons voted 6-0 on Jan. 7 to approve the agreement.
The Pevely Board of Aldermen voted 6-0 on Feb. 2 to authorize the mayor to enter into the agreement. Pevely Aldermen Rick Yount of Ward 2 and Steve Miles of Ward 3 did not attend the regular meeting. Miles was at a closed meeting beforehand, but not at the regular meeting when the agreement came up for vote.
“We have a great working relationship with the Pevely PD and were able to come to an agreement on holding these prisoners for at least the next year,” Selvaggio said.
According to the agreement, Byrnes Mill will pay Pevely a flat rate of $200 for any period of detention up to the first 24 hours per detainee.
For every additional 24-hour period, Byrnes Mill will pay an additional $200 per detainee.
Byrnes Mill also is responsible for medical care for its detainees, while they are held in Pevely.
Byrnes Mill detainees will not be released in Pevely without means of transportation for leaving the city.
Pevely Police Capt. Don Moore said this is a similar policy the city has in its jail housing agreement with the Herculaneum Police Department.
“Like every police department, we’re short on manpower so we do require the agency that comes down and books their prisoners, does the releasing and takes care of them as well,” he said.