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County Executive Sam Page nominated longtime federal probation chief Kito Bess to run the jail following the September retirement of former Director Scott Anders. Anders was appointed in October 2021 following a series of arrivals and departures: From early 2019 through fall 2022, the jail had six different directors.

“Something is not working there,” said Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor. “And I hope that you’re able to address some of the concerns we have.”

Bess, 49, said once he moved to the ӣ����Ƶ region, he and his family would make it home. He plans to retire from his job as chief probation officer for the federal district court in Minnesota, a move federal chiefs are able to do beginning at age 50.

He began his career in county corrections in the Miami area before serving the federal government for 23 years, focusing on alternatives to imprisonment and community reentry for incarcerated people. Now, he said he wants to work at the local level of government again.

“This is an opportunity to do something different back at the county level,” Bess said.

The jail’s interim director, Doug Burris, said he has known Bess for more than 20 years. Burris was serving as the federal probation chief in the Eastern District of Missouri when Bess worked as chief in Louisiana overseeing New Orleans.

“During that time I have admired his leadership skills and the outcomes that he has produced. In fact I can’t imagine a more effective and professional leader to take St Louis Justice Services into the 2030s than Chief Bess,” Burris said.

Republican Councilman Dennis Hancock of Fenton asked Bess what he would do his first day on the job.

“The first thing for me to do is start building relationships with staff of the ӣ����Ƶ County Justice Center,” and with the council, courts, jail advisory board, jail residents and the community, Bess said.

The jail has seen troubling incidents in recent years. Roughly a year ago, a person assaulted a jail officer who was supervising at least 65 maximum security inmates by herself. Later, a supervisor who didn’t want to be named for fear of retaliation told the Post-Dispatch following the attack that jail staff were ignoring a policy requiring two guards to be on duty per housing unit. Then there was a broken sprinkler and a mattress set on fire earlier this year, triggering criminal investigations.

Bess’ salary would be just under $150,500, the same as Anders and the interim director.

The council also questioned a candidate to replace the recently retired revenue department director.

Tony Smee, chief appraiser for the Cape Girardeau county assessor, said he feels he could make a statewide impact by helping guide one of Missouri’s biggest economic engines.

The Department of Revenue helps manage property taxes, issues licenses and distributes money to other county agencies. The department’s former director, Scott Lakin, retired in September.

Councilwoman Days asked Smee, 54, if his experience as an appraiser in a smaller county would apply in ӣ����Ƶ County.

“I don’t see a lot of experience dealing with revenue specifically,” Days said. “Most of your experience is in assessments.”

“I’m familiar on both sides of the table, which is a unique perspective,” Smee said.

Smee said he hasn’t managed a government the size of ӣ����Ƶ County before, but he has managed multimillion-dollar companies and dozens of employees.

Smee previously worked in construction and the home inspection industry, according to his online resume.

Smee’s salary would be $136,700.

The council could approve hiring the candidates as soon as Tuesday.

County Executive Page is also seeking a new director for the Department of Administration. Former Director Karen Aroesty resigned in October.