Amended 2/18/05

LAW ENFORCEMENT

February 10, 2005

Minutes

 

 

Members Present:         Debbie DeLeon, Deb Nolan, Dale Copedge, Marc Thomas, Randy Schafer, Don Vickers and Board Chairperson Mark Grebner

 

Members Absent:         None

 

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Steve Dougan and others

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson DeLeon at 6:01 p.m. in the Personnel

Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

 

Approval of the January 27, 2005 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. THOMAS, TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 27 MINUTES AS AMENDED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Additions to the Agenda

5b.       Long Term Financing for Areas of Priority Emphasis 2005-2010

 

Limited Public Comment:          None

 

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

 

1.         Community Corrections Advisory Board – Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Subcontract with the Home of New Vision for Women’s Probation Residential Services for FY 2004-2005

 

3.         Sheriff’s Office

a.         Resolution to Authorize the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office to Accept Equipment for Heavy Rescue

b.         Resolution Honoring Captain John Causie

c.         Resolution to Accept the 2005 Regional Pursuit Driving Grant

d.         Resolution to Accept the 2005 160 – Hour Correctional Training Grant

 

4.         Sheriff’s Office/Emergency Operations Center – Resolution to Approve the Michigan Department of State Police, Emergency Management Division 2004 State Homeland Security Grant/Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program Grant Budget and Related Subcontracts

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. THOMAS, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

2.         Integrated Justice Information Systems – Resolution to Accept a Criminal History Records Improvement Grant from the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy for a LIVE Scan Fingerprinting, Archival and Computer Network Communication

System and to Authorize Subcontracts with Agency Partners

 

MOVED BY COMM. THOMAS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS IMPROVEMENT GRANT FROM THE MICHIGAN OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY FOR A LIVE SCAN FINGERPRINTING, ARCHIVAL AND COMPUTER NETWORK COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND TO AUTHORIZE SUBCONTRACTS WITH AGENCY PARTNERS.

 

Mr. Neilsen explained the Resolution would authorize contracting with the Meridian Township Police Department, Lansing Police Department, East Lansing Police Department, Michigan State University Police Department, Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, 54-A, 54-B and 55th District Courts, 30th Circuit Court and Ingham County’s Management Information Systems Department from February 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005.

 

The LIVE Scan Fingerprinting provides a digital fingerprint image which is transmitted to the State and Federal governments.  Mr. Neilsen stated he would email the Commissioners further information regarding this item.

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

5.         Controller’s Office

a.         RFP Process for Local and Long Distance Service for the Inmate and Public Pay Telephones

 

Mr. Neilsen explained the Resolution awarding a contract to the recommended vendor was rejected by the Board of Commissioners in November.  In its rejection, the Board stated it had determined acceptance of the proposal is not in the best interests of the County because the RFP and the proposals received did not included an acceptable set of charges for use of phone services.  Also, because the evaluation criteria of potential vendors did not include consideration of local economic impact.

 

The County Services Committee has been working on an amendment to the County Purchasing Policies to address the Board’s concerns.  A proposed resolution is expected to be presented to the Board for its consideration in February.

 

Staff is recommending the RFP to be issued for selecting a vendor for Local and Long Distance Service for the Inmate and Public Pay Telephones include the following requirement:  The vendor shall provide the following alternative pay phone charges and commission schedules.  Mr. Neilsen stated the three staff recommended alternatives are outlined in his memorandum to this Committee of January 31, 2005.  Staff is requesting this Committee’s recommendation. 

 

Chairperson Grebner stated his concern that inmates and their families should not be financially drained by using the public pay telephones.  Inmates and their families should be charged the lowest possible rate while still allowing the County to generate $350,000 in revenue.  Comm. Thomas stated his belief that the current policy is immoral.  The County should do what it can to lower phone costs for the inmates and their families.  This can be done without causing any financial hardship on the part of the County. 

 

Comm. Schafer recommended staff follow Alternative #2 as set forth in the memorandum.  He also suggested staff negotiate a multi-year contract.  Comm. Schafer then asked for information regarding any overhead costs associated with providing inmates access to public pay phones. 

 

Alternative #2

A pay phone charge schedule shall be provided based on the assumption that a commission rate on all gross billable revenue for all Inmate Collect Calls made from the Ingham County correctional facility will be paid to Ingham County sufficient to generate $350,000 annually based on the following activities:  3,221 of local calls for a total of 37,695 minutes, 710 IntraLata calls for a total of 13,100 minutes and 1,842 long distance calls for a total of 21,786 minutes initiated from the Ingham County Jail.  The pay phone charge schedule should also indicate any additional charges which would apply to long distance calls.

 

Comm. DeLeon stated the County may generate more revenue by reducing the pay phone charges for inmates and their families.  More phone calls would be made due to the reduced rates.

 

Comm. Schafer expressed his concern regarding making the determination of local economic impact.  Comm. DeLeon stated the County Services Committee is dealing with this aspect. 

 

The Committee continued their discussion of this item.  Comm. Nolan asked if it would be possible to gradually reduce the County’s revenue rate to $0 over time.  The revenue stream could be replaced somewhere else in the County’s budget.  Comm. Vickers stated he agreed that the County’s rate of revenue should be reduced. 

 

Comm. DeLeon stated she would be reluctant to recommend a multi-year contract at this time.  This could be considered after the contract has been in place for a period of time.  Mr. Neilsen explained that multi-year contracts are typical because it would not be cost effective for the vendor to enter into a one-year contract. 

 

In response to Comm. Nolan’s previous statement regarding reducing the County’s revenue rate, Comm. Thomas stated the budget has already been adopted.  Therefore, the Board should protect the integrity of that budget.  Comm. DeLeon expressed her concern that a contract should address changes in phone usage.  Mr. Neilsen explained the contract could contain a sliding scale to accommodate phone usage changes. 

 

Comm.  Vickers recommended staff use Alternative #2 with a sliding scale as discussed in the previous paragraph.  Comm. Nolan stated the revenue projection should not be reduced as currently budgeted.  Comm. Thomas agreed with Comm. Nolan’s statement. 

 

Mr. Neilsen stated his understanding that the Committee’s recommendation is to go with Alternative #2.  He will present further details to this Committee at its next meeting.  Comm. Thomas stated contract years two and three could potentially reduce the revenue rate to the County.  Comm. Schafer supported a reduction in the revenue rate.  The County should shoot for $350,000 with an inflationary rate. 

 

b.         Long Term Financing for Areas of Priority Emphasis 2005-2010

 

Mr. Neilsen stated staff is developing a five-year financial projection for continuing current services and for addressing areas of priority emphasis.  All liaison committees will receive this information as part of the normal budget process.  Staff is requesting the liaison committees to review the information and comment on the desire and feasibility of proceeding. 

 

6.         Board Referral – Letter from the Michigan Department of Corrections Forwarding the Ingham County Jail Inspection Report Dated December 8, 2004

 

The Board Referral was received and placed on file.

 

Announcements:           None

 

Public Comment:          None

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:01 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Debra Neff