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Chambers County Commission will be increasing the booking and feeding fees for Chambers County Jail inmates from the cities of Valley, Lanett and LaFayette, according to a motion passed at Monday night’s commission meeting.

The county commissioners approved the motion in the public meeting after a discussion during the work session earlier that day. Once enacted, the cities will be charged a $25 booking fee and a $10 feeding allowance per day per inmate.

The municipalities will also be required to pay medical expenses for any treatments that inmates from the cities might have while they are incarcerated at Chambers County Detention Center.

The increase is set to begin starting October 1.

After looking at the county jail budget, Sheriff Jeff Nelson saw the need to increase the current municipality fee for inmates received from cities.

County Attorney Skip McCoy said they came before the county commissioners to request an increase in the fees to meet the growing need.

Currently, the county does not charge a booking fee to the cities, and the feeding allowance is $3 per inmate, McCoy said.

Currently, any medical expenses are charged to the county through the county detention center.

If an inmate has any medical needs while incarcerated, the charges come out of the county’s budget rather than the city’s.

McCoy said that the new rates are lower than many surrounding counties charge their municipalities.

During the meeting, Chambers County Chief Deputy Mike Parrish, when asked by Commissioner Debra Riley, said that all of the mayors for each municipality had been informed that the issue would need to be addressed soon.