(a) After a regional jail facility is operational, the facility shall serve as the county jail for each county participating in the regional jail authority and shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11-14-10 and Section 14-6-1. The sheriff of each county shall retain his or her authority regarding the custody and transportation of prisoners from his or her county and may cause the removal of any prisoner from the regional jail facility for any purpose authorized by law. The superintendent of the regional jail facility and all jail personnel shall be employees of the regional jail authority unless the facility is maintained and operated by a privately owned jail management firm. The superintendent shall be selected by the sheriff members of the board of directors and shall serve at their pleasure. The superintendent, according to written policies and procedures adopted by the sheriff members of the board of directors, shall have and exercise control and authority over prisoners committed or transferred to the regional jail facility while housed in the facility and shall supervise all jail officers and other employees assigned to the facility.

(b) Upon resolution of the county commission, any county participating in a regional jail authority may continue to keep operational the jail in its county for the limited purpose of temporarily housing prisoners as necessary while awaiting arraignment or other hearing or as otherwise deemed necessary by the sheriff of the county.