Amended 2/12/04

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Members Present: Andy Schor, Dianne Holman, Chris Swope, Randy Schafer and Tom Minter

Members Absent: Mary Stid

Others Present: John Neilsen, Matthew Myers and Christine Timmons

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Schor at 6:01 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the January 15, 2004 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SWOPE, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 15 MINUTES AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Stid

Additions to the Agenda

Comm. Schafer asked when this Committee would discuss the 911 Millage. Mr. Neilsen stated he distributed a tentative agenda of discussions for upcoming meetings at the last Law Enforcement meeting. The Millage will be discussed in February.

Limited Public Comment

Ms. Timmons stated Mr. Myers informed her prior to this meeting that inmates's private insurance carriers usually cancel their insurance when incarcerated. She also suggested various discussion items for this Committee.

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE A CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

• 911 Committee/Controller's Office - Resolution Authorizing Contract with Miller Building Systems for the Public Safety Radio Communications System Project Equipment Shelters Purchase

3a. Sheriff's Office - Resolution to Accept a Donation of Two (2) Jet Stream Light Emergency Light Bars from Alert Emergency Equipment Group, Inc.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Stid

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Absent: Comm. Stid

• Law Enforcement Committee - Resolution to Amend the Policy to Charge Municipalities for the Medical Costs of Certain Inmates at the Ingham County Jail

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. MINTER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE POLICY TO CHARGE MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE MEDICAL COSTS OF CERTAIN INMATES AT THE INGHAM COUNTY JAIL.

Mr. Neilsen explained that he drafted this proposal since the last Law Enforcement meeting. This Resolution would amend the current Policy to Charge Municipalities for the Medical Costs of Certain Inmates at the Ingham County Jail.

The amendments to the Policy are as follows:

• •It provides for an after-hours notification of emergency - catastrophic cases;
• •The amended Policy now requires the Courts to establish an after-hours contact person and phone number for potential emergency - catastrophic medical cases;
• •Eliminates the $1,000 cap so that if a Court chooses not to consider changes to the Court's Order to release an inmate on their own recognizance or suspend an inmate's sentence until after medical care has been administered after proper notification, the appropriate municipality as allowed by law will be responsible for all the outside medical expenses which occur after the sending of the notice by the Sheriff, on behalf of the inmate.

Mr. Neilsen further stated the proposal was forwarded to the Lansing and East Lansing District Courts. He received a communication from Mr. Rehagan, Lansing District Court, that the Court is fine with this proposal. Chairperson Swope stated he spoke with Judges Krause and Cherry regarding the draft proposal also and they indicated they do not have any problems with the Policy. Councilman Jeffries has not reviewed the Policy at this time.

Comm. Schafer commended Mr. Myers and the Sheriff's Office for bringing this matter to this Committee's attention and for trying to protect the County's interests. Comm. Schafer also stated the issue of ordinance violators in the Ingham County Jail will be addressed as a separate matter.

Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that he spoke with Mr. Dunnings regarding the ordinance violators issue. Mr. Dunnings stated all first drunk driving offenses are processed by the City of Lansing. Mr. Dunnings did not take any position on this matter. Comm. Schafer requested that Mr. Dunnings appear before this Committee to address this issue since it is confusing. Chairperson Schor stated he would invite Mr. Dunnings to a Law Enforcement meeting for this discussion.

• Sheriff's Office

• Resolution to Authorize the Ingham County Sheriff's Office to Utilize a Stun Gun Originally Earmarked for Destruction

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SWOPE, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE INGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO UTILIZE A STUN GUN ORIGINALLY EARMARKED FOR DESTRUCTION.

Comm. Swope suggested the title be amended to reflect the actual intent of the Resolution. He suggested the following amendment:

Resolution to Authorize the Ingham County Sheriff's Office to Utilize a Stun Gun for Conversion into Equipment

The Committee accepted Comm. Swope's suggestion as a Friendly Amendment to the Resolution.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY as amended. Absent: Comm. Stid

• Discussion - Secure Care Inc. Proposal to do a Medical Audit of the Jail for Up to $4,584

Mr. Myers stated the Jail expansion is scheduled for September 2004. As a result of this expansion, the Jail will add three nurses to the Jail's medical staff. He further explained the Sheriff met with Ms. Laginess, Secure Care Inc., at the last Michigan Sheriff's Association Conference. Secure Care Inc. spoke to Sheriff Wrigglesworth regarding an audit of the Jail facility's medical department. Mr. Myers explained that such an audit would be an excellent way for the County to determine if its meeting the needs of the facility and to evaluate the services being provided by the Jail.

Secure Care Inc. has proposed to conduct an audit of the Ingham County Jail at a cost of $4,584. This is a very good rate considering the service to be provided. If the audit reveals a need for additional medical staffing, the County could contract with Secure Care Inc. for the hiring of additional nurses.

Mr. Myers stated he presented this information tonight to obtain the Committee's ideas regarding this matter.

Comm. Swope stated the company has provided a good proposal for a good cost. Therefore, the Sheriff's Office should move forward with this matter. Comm. Minter asked if this service would be bid out. Mr. Myers stated he is sure there are similar companies which could provide similar services. The County policy regarding contracts is that contracts under $5,000 do not need Board approval. However, he will check with the Purchasing Department regarding the correct process.

Mr. Neilsen explained if the Committee decides to pursue this matter, Secure Care Inc. could be notified of this and that the County will also bid out the service.

Comm. Schafer stated he is normally opposed to using outside agencies for this type of service. However, he is fully supportive of this proposal due to Secure Care Inc.'s proposal and cost. Comm. Holman stated this is a good idea. She then asked if the County's Health Department could provide the same service.

Mr. Myers stated the Health Department has conducted a review of the Jail's medical charting. This review takes place every one to one and a half years. He further explained the Jail medical staff does not include staff from the County Health Department. Also, jail nurses are very difficult to find due to the nature of the job. The Health Department has been somewhat successful in locating nurses for the Jail in the past.

Mr. Neilsen explained the County would gain an outside review of the Jail's medical department for a small cost. Chairperson Schor stated it would be helpful to have one or two other bids just for comparison purposes. This would not require a formal RFP process.

Comm. Minter stated he would rely on the opinions of Mr. Neilsen and Mr. Myers as to whether this service should be bid out due to the specialized service to be provided. He then expressed his full support for moving forward with Secure Care Inc.'s proposal.

Chairperson Schor stated it is the consensus of this Committee that the Sheriff's Office move forward with the proposal from Secure Care Inc.

Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee the Sheriff's Office is requesting the money for this contract to come from the County's 2004 Contingency Fund. If the Board approves of the proposal, the funding request would be submitted via a resolution through the normal committee process.

Announcements

Comm. Schafer asked about the Ingham Medical fund information. Mr. Neilsen stated he would present this information to this Committee at its next meeting.

Public Comment

Ms. Timmons expressed her continuing concerns regarding same-sex or domestic partner health insurance.

The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff