Mattress Stuffing, Rags Blocked Montgomery County Jail Sewer Line

Montgomery County Board Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting | June 2, 2026

Article Summary: Maintenance Director Phil Ernst told the Montgomery County Board Buildings & Grounds Committee on June 2 that a blockage in the sewer pipes at the Montgomery County Jail was caused by mattress stuffing and rags forced down the pipe, and that the county’s own attempts to clear it dented an auger before an outside plumber was called in.

Maintenance Report Key Points:

• Ernst reviewed 66 items on his report, including the lengthy process of clearing the jail’s sewer pipes.
• Several attempts by the maintenance crew resulted in a dented auger; Dan Heise Plumbing was called for further help.
• After the blockage was removed, it was discovered to have been caused by both mattress stuffing and rags forced down the pipe.
• Ernst reported completing 43 work orders in May.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — A blockage that took the Montgomery County maintenance crew several attempts and an outside plumbing contractor to clear turned out to be mattress stuffing and rags forced down a pipe at the Montgomery County Jail, Maintenance Director Phil Ernst told the Buildings & Grounds Committee on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

The committee met at 8:30 a.m. in the County Board Room on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse, #1 Courthouse Square, Hillsboro. Committee Chair Mark Hughes led the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Hughes, Russell Beason, Connie Beck, Keith Hancock and Evan Young were present; Doug Donaldson was absent. No one spoke during public comments.

Ernst reviewed the 66 items on his monthly report, and singled out what the minutes describe as the lengthy process the maintenance crew undertook to clear the sewer pipes at the jail. Several attempts resulted in a dented auger — the rotating cable tool used to bore through pipe obstructions — and Dan Heise Plumbing was called for further help. After the blockage was removed, it was discovered that it had been caused by both mattress stuffing and rags being forced down the pipe.

The minutes do not record a cost for the plumbing call, a cost to repair or replace the dented auger, how long the pipes were blocked, or whether jail operations were affected. They do not state whether the material entered the line from within the jail or from elsewhere, and no discussion or questions from committee members on the item are reflected in the record.

Mowers Down, Contractor Brought In

Ernst also reported problems with the mowers, which were taken to be repaired. Yount Mowing was contracted to mow.

The minutes do not state how many mowers were affected, the nature of the problems, the cost of the repairs, the terms or cost of the Yount Mowing contract, or which county properties the contractor is mowing. No motion or vote on the mowing arrangement appears in the record.

Snow Blade, Work Orders and a Rescheduled Paint Job

Ernst reported that the snow blade attachment for the Sheriff’s side-by-side will be funded through the Safety Grant. The minutes do not give a cost for the attachment, do not identify the Safety Grant’s source or amount, and do not indicate whether the purchase requires further approval.

Ernst also reported completing 43 work orders in May, and noted that Cinric Painting had rescheduled its re-staining of the historic judicial benches in the County Board Room to June 20. The minutes do not record the contract amount for the bench work, the original date, or the reason for the reschedule.

The maintenance report was listed on the agenda for update and approval, but the minutes record no motion or vote on the report itself. The 66 items Ernst reviewed are not individually listed in the record; the sewer line, the mowers, the snow blade, the work order count and the bench re-staining are the only items from his report reflected in the minutes.

A Department Under Load

The report arrives as Ernst’s department presses for more help. Two days later, at the Finance & Budget Committee’s June 4 meeting, Ernst described the need to add a third staff member in FY2027, citing a workload increase from responsibilities his office has absorbed from former contract agreements and from other departments, along with two new buildings that bring the county’s total to 11. That committee instructed him to put the additional staff in his budget request, with a decision to be made during the budget process.

The Buildings & Grounds Committee approved a motion to pay the bills by Beck, seconded by Beason, which carried, and a motion to adjourn by Beason, seconded by Beck, which also carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:59 a.m. Minutes were submitted by acting secretary Mike Plunkett, as deputized by County Clerk/Recorder Sandy Leitheiser.