I am employed by the Hay County Sheriff’s Department to maintain and repair any problems within the jail. I have worked under Sheriffs Don Montague, Alan Bridges, and now Tommy Ratliff. All attempted to get help from the Commissioners for jail repairs. Tommy Ratliff is the only one that got the Commissioners to do something about all its problems. Right after Ratliff was appointed he went to the Commissioners with a list of things needing attention in the jail. Not until he brought in the Jail Commission did the Commissioners intend to do anything. The Jail Commission informed us what was needed and it was up to Ratliff to get the Commissioners to finance the repairs, and he did. The roof had been leaking for years, there were plumbing problems, electrical problems, the list goes on and on. Sheriff Ratliff has been the only Sheriff to get the finances available to do all necessary repairs. In the short time Ratliff has been there, the jail has a new roof, remodeled kitchen, and several other issues taken care of, i.e. painting, polishing, etc. Listening to Cutler talk in one of the debates, he speaks of floor tiles coming loose. I don’t know where he got this information. The floors are all concrete and terrazzo. He’s never been in the jail to my knowledge. Before he speaks he needs to be certain he has facts and can back them up. Thanks to Sheriff Ratliff the funds became available to repair and pass the inspection.
Gilbert Hernandez
San Marcos
