West Point City Council is likely to vote on a contract Monday that would allow its inmates to be housed at the Troup County Jail.

Troup County is expected to vote on the same contract Nov. 20.

Police Chief Jeffrey Cato had proposed the change about a month ago to ease overcrowding and some costs associated with keeping inmates in the small jail inside the police department.

West Point is the last city in Troup County to use its own jail.

It would cost about $40 per day to house an inmate at the county jail. Police Capt. Robert Fawley said it costs West Point $18 per day just to feed an inmate at the city jail and the city is responsible for untold man hours and the medical needs of all inmates. One recently required an evaluation at the hospital that cost $2,000.

Cato told council Thursday that the city still would be responsible for medical expenses if an inmate had to be taken to the hospital.

“I don’t anticipate having a lot of that,” he said.

The county jail has medical staff there 24 hours a day and can handle most medical needs without taking anyone to the hospital, he said.

Money collected by the police department through fines and tickets could help with those costs if someone had to be transported for medical attention elsewhere, he said.

The city also is looking at using an ankle monitoring program for those who have committed lesser offenses. Ankle monitors cost about $10 a day and that cost is eventually paid by the offender or the court system.

Also on Monday, council is expected to hear a presentation from representatives of Hawkes Library. The library has been working on a strategic plan for the last several months and funding of local libraries was the main issue brought up during two “listening sessions” council held on its proposed 2013 budget.