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Approval of an agreement by the Escambia County Commissioners on Monday will bring about a change in medical care seen by inmates at the Escambia County Detention Center.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said the changes take place beginning Aug. 1.

“We have had some issues keeping nursing staff on board,” Jackson said. “The county offers great benefits, but private entities are able to have a higher rate of pay but with less benefits. Most people are looking at what they get now as opposed to benefits and most people don’t want to work in a county jail.”

With the agreement now in place with Southern Health Partners, Jackson said inmates will continue to receive proper health care while in custody.

“The team of nurses will be taking over the healthcare at the Center and provide daily service,” Jackson said. “We won’t have any lag time between staff nursing and nurses from Southern Health Partners.”

Also during Monday’s meeting of the Escambia County Commission, the group approved a resolution for an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation and Escambia County Area Transit System.

Commissioners also heard from County Engineer Bill Bridges on the amount of paving that has been completed over the last year.

“We have completed $5.5 million in paving projects this year,” Bridges told commissioners. “We still have a lot to do, but we have made a lot of progress this year.

Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins offered words of appreciation to Bridges.

“We appreciate our road department,” Wiggins said. “We know that you and the entire department work hard to help the citizens who drive the county roads here.”

David Jordan took his place at the table for the first time as the county’s attorney.