Approved 1/31/08

LAW ENFORCEMENT

January 10, 2008

Minutes

Members Present:          Dianne Holman, Dale Copedge, Victor Celentino, Debbie DeLeon, Todd

                                       Tennis, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas

Members Absent:           None

Others Present:               John Neilsen and Karen Chadwick

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Holman at  6:00 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the November 29, 2007 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. DELEON, TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 29 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Limited Public Comment:          None

Additions to the Agenda

1b.       Substitute Resolution

1d.       Project Sentry Employee – Update

1e.       Discussion Items for upcoming meetings

1.         Controller’s Office

            a.         Resolution to Amend the Ingham County Final 911 Service Plan

Mr. Neilsen stated this Resolution amends the 911 Service Plan.  Agenda item 1b adopts the monthly 911 surcharge within the County.  There is a new 19 cent state wide surcharge on all devices capable of accessing 911.  The 19 cent rate and the 31 cent county wide surcharge on the same devices are intended to replace the current 79 cent county wide landline surcharge as well as the 29 cent per line charge the state levies on cell phones.  Landline users will see a reduction in monthly per line surcharges of 79 cents to 50 cents.  Cellular users will see an increase from 29 cents to 50 cents. 

P.A. 164 takes effect July 2, 2008 and sunsets February 28, 2009.  The current funding system remains in place until June 30, 2008.  The Michigan Association of Counties is working to extend this sunset. 

Comm. Copedge asked how the 19 cents will be disbursed to local jurisdictions by the State.  Mr. Neilsen stated service providers are allowed to keep 2% to cover their costs.  They are required to remit payment to the County on a quarterly basis. 

Mr. Neilsen distributed an example of what the new funding system will look like based on the new formula.  The Committee reviewed this information.

Comm. Schafer stated he asked Ms. Chadwick to provide him with information as to why non-profit organizations do not have to pay the surcharges. 

Mr. Neilsen stated this Committee will determine if the County will renew its 911 millage.  The Millage will expire in 2009.

MOVED BY COMM. TENNIS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE INGHAM COUNTY FINAL 911 SERVICE PLAN.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

            b.         Resolution to Adopt a Monthly 911 Surcharge Within Ingham County

MOVED BY COMM. TENNIS, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A MONTHLY 911 SURCHAGE WITHIN INGHAM COUNTY.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

            c.         Update on 911 Public Safety Communications System Issues

Mr. Neilsen stated TUSA Consulting will charge $16,000 to review the proposal.  They can perform other services for an additional cost. 

Comm. Celentino asked about the review of the dropped call issue.  Mr. Neilsen stated TUSA believes they have isolated the problem in the software.  Individual radios will have to be reprogrammed.  A schedule for the new software release is not available at this time.  Comm. Celentino asked Mr. Neilsen if he is confident that TUSA is making this a priority.  Mr. Neilsen stated he believes TUSA has made the County’s issues a priority.  Comm. DeLeon stated TUSA should make the County’s issue their number one priority.

Comm. Copedge stated if the County issues a new RFP, it should be well thought out and comprehensive.  He stated his concern that people are becoming more concerned about this problem.  Comm. Celentino agreed with Comm. Copedge.  He then stated the County should communicate with upper level management at M/A Com.  Mr. Neilsen stated he contacted M/A Com on Tuesday to obtain the final information.    The information was not available.

Chairman Holman stated Comm. Nolan read a newspaper article from New York regarding their problems with the same radio system.  She then asked if the Committee has a next step if TUSA does not follow through in this matter.  Mr. Neilsen stated he will continue to work with TUSA, and, he will also contact New York regarding the newspaper article.

Comm. DeLeon stated she is not comfortable because the County still does not have concrete answers from TUSA.  Chairperson Holman stated the Committee should develop a timeframe for the resolution of this matter.  Mr. Neilsen stated he hopes to have an update from TUSA at this Committee’s next meeting.

            d.         Project Sentry Employee – Update

Mr. Neilsen stated, based on his understanding, one of the two Project Sentry employees is not seeking a job with the County.  The other employee is in the process of applying for and interviewing for positions.  She is also working on a temporary basis to complete paperwork for Project Sentry. 

Comm. DeLeon stated the other employee would like to have another position within the County.  She then explained why the employee waited for a period of time before seeking County employment.  Mr. Neilsen stated he was not aware of this situation.  Comm. DeLeon stated if the employees are not placed in new positions through the normal County process, they should be placed in lateral positions.  The County’s employment process may need to be reviewed in this regard.

Comm. Copedge stated the County made a commitment to find positions for the two Project Sentry employees.  He then asked what will happen if the first employee is not selected for a position.  Mr. Neilsen stated staff will continue to work with the employee until she finds a position.

Comm. Schafer stated it’s important to take care of our employees.  The County should also be cognizant of its ethic’s policy.  Comm. Schafer further stated Project Sentry would not have closed if it had remained on Hayford Street. 

Chairperson Holman stated this is an employee issue which should be handled by the County Services Committee. 

Comm. DeLeon stated the two employees waited until Project Sentry closed before they started their search for another position.  The employees wanted to complete their responsibilities at Project Sentry.

            e.         Scheduling

Chairperson Holman stated two of the main issues facing this Committee this year are jail overcrowding and the consolation of the 911 centers. 

Comm. Copedge stated the jail treatment meetings will continue until March or April.  Any discussions of jail overcrowding should wait until those meetings have concluded.  Comm. Copedge then stated the County needs to follow through on the tethering issue.  Once a vendor is selected, it may be six months before the equipment is online.  Mr. Neilsen stated once a recommendation is made, a project timeline will be provided to this Committee.  Comm. Copedge suggested the County implement a pilot tethering program to alleviate jail overcrowding in the meantime. 

Comm. Schafer agreed with Comm. Copedge.  He further stated the County should pursue a low security structure at the Jail.  A dorm-style setting for non-violent offenders would be much less costly.  Judge Collette is supportive of this concept.  Chairperson Holman stated Judge Collette wants to provide a presentation to this Committee on this issue. 

Chairperson Holman asked if this Committee would like to work on the 911 consolidation matter or if it would prefer to establish an ad hoc committee for this purpose.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated this Committee should determine if the matter should be forwarded to the 911 Advisory Committee.  Mr. Neilsen explained the 911 Advisory Committee has recommended their steering committee be used for the consolidation discussions.   The Committee discussed this issue further.

Comm. Schafer stated this Committee has discussed the issue of video arraignments for several years.  Chairperson Holman stated this matter will be a part of the jail overcrowding discussions.  This Committee will have an overview of the jail overcrowding issue at its next meeting. 

Announcements

Comm. Schafer stated he would like quarterly reports from this Committee’s Commissioners who are assigned to different committees and agencies relating to law enforcement.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated it would be more efficient to provide the reports at the committee level.  Comm. Celentino stated it may be easier to provide the brief reports at Board Leadership meetings.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated he will work on this matter. 

Comm. Copedge stated this Committee should address the road patrol matter soon.  Chairperson Holman stated Mr. Neilsen will look into this matter and determine when the discussion should be scheduled.  Comm. Copedge further stated the County should take a proactive approach to this issue.

Public Comment:          None

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff