Commissioners will fund the sheriff $1.2 million. Commissioner Tom Graham is requesting that Abdalla move $400,000 slated to be spent on road deputies and spend it instead on jailers to keep the jail opened.

Aballa says he doesn't want to risk losing any road deputies and leave rural tax payers without any law enforcement protection.

The commission and the sheriff pariticipated in a heated exchange over the matter Dec. 3. Local law enforcement from Yorkville, Tiltonsville, and Wells Township turned out for the meeting to voice frustration over the lack of space in the jail.

Jefferson County Judge David Scarpone said because of the limited space at the jail that judges are sentencing criminals to jail time and then they're set free.

Local mayors from around the county are expected to discuss the issue in hopes of finding a solution. The commission and the sheriff will meet again to discuss the matter.