GRAND FORKS (AP) - Grand Forks county commissioners have voted to fire jail administrator Gary Gardner, who says he likely will challenge the decision.

Tuesday's vote was 4-1 to fire Gardner, who was criticized after inspectors found the jail in violation of state and federal rules involving training and other issues.

A move to fire Gardner last month was narrowly defeated, and commissioners instead voted to suspend pay raises for him and extend his job probation.

Commissioner William Murphy was the only one to support Gardner on Tuesday. He did not comment on his vote.

"I think my attorney will challenge this legally," Gardner said after the vote. He said he did not get the help he needed.

"For the last 11 years, all the time I've asked for help and guidance from the commission, I've not received what I've needed," Gardner said.

Gardner was suspended without pay for 30 days and given a year of probation in July for misinforming commissioners about contracts for housing federal prisoners. Commissioner Connie Triplett, who made the motion to fire him, said earlier she had lost confidence in his management.

Gardner said Commissioners Gary Malm and Martin Yahna came to his office Friday to ask if he would consider resigning if they were able to put together an incentive package.

"I said no," Gardner said Tuesday. "Why would I take a buyout when I did nothing wrong?"

The commissioners told him they knew he had done nothing wrong, Gardner said, but they told him they were tired of negative publicity over the jail and suggested Gardner should leave.

The jail inspections began after an Aug. 25 suicide at the old jail in downtown Grand Forks. A new jail opened in September.