City council at its work session tonight agreed to use inmate labor for public works and recreation projects.

Parks and Recreation Director Chris Wicker said he would like begin the program the beginning of November.

This is not the first time the city has used inmate labor, said Mayor D.N. Beale.

Now with the inmate labor program back in the state’s budget, cities are eligible to use them again, the mayor said.

“There’s been changes with the inmate program,” Wicker said.

The city has requested 10 honor grade inmates from Tillery Correctional Center to use daily. “There are no sex offenders. There are tight restrictions on how they’re used,” Wicker said.

Six inmates will work with public works while four will work with parks and recreation, Wicker said.

The cost is $1 per day per inmate which equals $2,600 a year. With the expense of meals and driving them to and from Tillery each day the cost of the program will be about $14,750 a year, said Wicker.

Wicker said, however, the inmates will do some 10,800 hours of work because of cutbacks in seasonal and part time work. The inmates will pick up leaves, repair fences and work on ball fields as well as do required work with public works, he said. “They can’t drive tractors, trucks or use chainsaws. I think it will be a good benefit. I think the benefit of it will help us catch up on things we’re behind in and be proactive instead of reactive.”

Council approved the contract with the understanding City Attorney Gilbert Chichester must review it by council’s regular meeting next Tuesday.

City Manager Paul Sabiston said the inmates will pick up about $60,000 in labor costs. “While we don’t want to rush into anything, I feel like we will be the first one in the area or first one in the state to take advantage of the program,” he said. “If we wait and read about some other area doing this we will be waiting in line to get this.”

In a matter related to public works, Sabiston said the city is considering bringing back the street sweeper on a limited basis.

Public Works Director Richard Parnell said the sweeper must first be repaired, which is going to cost around $6,000.

Once the repairs are made, the sweeper could be running by the end of the month and most likely operating three days a month.

Parnell said the city will attack the entrances to the city with the machine. That means Roanoke Avenue, 7th Street, 10th Street, Julian R. Allsbrook Highway, Premier Boulevard, 4th Avenue, Becker Drive and Bolling Road.