Approved 2/28/08

LAW ENFORCEMENT

February 14, 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, Janeil Valentine, Alan Spyke, Jamie McAloon-Lampman,

                                       Greg Harless and Sam Davis

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Holman at  6:02 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

Approval of the January 31, 2008 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. CELENTINO, TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 31 MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Tennis

Limited Public Comment:          None

Additions to the Agenda:           None

1.         Interviews – Animal Control Advisory Committee

The Committee interviewed Margaret Striz for a position on the Animal Control Advisory Committee. 

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

2.         Animal Control – Resolution to Accept a $6,000.00 Donation from Bill Richardson of Zootoo House and to Authorize a Contract with Shelter Planners of America for an Animal Control Shelter Building Assessment

3.         Sheriff’s Office

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

b.         Resolution Authorizing Participation with the Meridian Township Police Department Highway Safety Grant

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

3.         Sheriff’s Office

c.         Resolution to Extend the Canteen Commissary Contract for Three Years

MOVED BY COMM. CELENTINO, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHAFER, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE CANTEEN COMMISSARY CONTRACT FOR THREE YEARS.

Comm. Copedge asked how the Office handles inmate requests for items that are not offered at the commissary.  Major Davis stated specific items will be made available to the inmates.  The Office wants to ensure that inmates are aware that specific items are available. 

(Comm. Tennis arrived at 6:19 p.m.)

Ms. Valentine stated the Purchasing Department and the Sheriff’s Office conducted another RFP process for selecting a vendor for commissary services after February 2008.  An evaluation committee reviewed the four proposals and has recommended Canteen Services.  The Sheriff’s Office did a wonderful job of evaluating the responses. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Comm. Copedge stated Major Davis has played a large role in the jail treatment services discussions. 

4.         Controller’s Office

a.         Resolution of Intent to Enter into a Conditional Agreement with the Cities of East Lansing and Lansing for the Purposes of Creating an Ingham County Consolidated 911 Center

MOVED BY COMM. DELEON, SUPPORTED BY COMM. COPEDGE, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ENTER INTO A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO ENTER INTO A CONDITIONAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES OF EAST LANSING AND LANSING FOR THE PURPOSES OF CREATING AN INGHAM COUNTY CONSOLIDATED 911 CENTER.

Mr. Neilsen explained that this Resolution does a number of things to move forward on the 911 consolidation issue.  The Resolution:

a)         Restates the Board of Commissioner’s positions from previous resolutions regarding the structure of the Ingham 911 Consolidated Center.

b)         States that the current two 911 Centers’ employees would not be placed in any worse position regarding wages and that their benefit packages would be held harmless unless otherwise negotiated through collective bargaining.

c)         Proposes that the Cities of Lansing and East Lansing allow the use of the current City operated 911 Centers at no cost to Ingham County during a transitional phase of 911 operations until a new 911 Center is identified and secured for use. 

d)         Expresses the Board’s intent to enter into a conditional agreement with the Cities of Lansing and East Lansing for the purposes of creating a Consolidated 91 Center operation once an action plan has been developed and approved by the affected parties.

Mr. Neilsen further stated East Lansing is now in agreement to proceed with the consolidation. 

Comm. Schafer stated it’s important to keep moving forward on this matter.  The County has come a long way over the past 20 years.  Comm. DeLeon stated it’s exciting that the County is moving in a regional direction while saving tax payers’ money. 

Board Chairperson Thomas asked for the proposed long range savings with the consolidation.  Mr. Neilsen stated the savings will depend on the final action plan.  Comm. Celentino stated the proposed savings is $1.6 million per year.  Mr. Neilsen explained that this amount did not take into consideration the cost of a new building. 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

b.         Update and Discussion on Jail Overcrowding Initiatives

Chairperson Holman stated she put this item on the agenda to keep this matter fresh in the Commissioners’ minds.  Comm. Copedge stated the JUCC recommendations should be ready in April.

Mr. Neilsen distributed the JUCC’s 2007 Recommendations to the Committee for its review during this discussion.  He then reviewed the February 14, 2008 updates to the Recommendations.  These updates are included in the 2007 report. The Committee discussed the Recommendations and the updates.

Comm. Schafer asked if inmates are eligible for work duties in the County parks.  Mr. Harless stated a non-Sheriff Office person would supervise the inmates at the parks.  The supervisors are responsible for transporting inmates from the Jail to the park.  Mr. Spyke stated the Judges can sentence people to work in the parks. 

Chairperson Holman stated the report highlights many of the programs we are using at this time.  Additional program information will be available from the JUCC in April.  She further stated she spoke with the Judiciary Committee Chair regarding the two Committees working together on pre-trial services for organizational changes. 

The Committee discussed the issue of electronic tethering.  Mr. Neilsen stated Ms. Stabenow’s office contacted the Board Office regarding potential federal funds for jail safety and technology issues.  Proposals are being developed for this funding.  One proposal addresses the electronic monitoring process.  Electronic tether users will be charged a fee to help make the program self sufficient.  The Court, the Sheriff’s Office and the Youth Center surveillance systems need to be updated.  If funding is not approved for these matters, they will be addressed in the normal budget process. 

Board Chairperson Thomas thanked Mr. Neilsen and Mr. Cypher for responding to this matter quickly.  The Sheriff’s Office also assisted in this matter.  Board Chairperson Thomas stated he will email a summary of the funding application to the Committee. 

Comm. Copedge stated he hopes the County will proceed with the electronic tethering system if the federal funding is not granted.  Mr. Neilsen stated the County will proceed with the RFP process.  The federal funding would be for a pilot tethering system. 

Comm. Copedge asked if the funding information contained anything about road patrol.  Mr. Neilsen stated the information did not include this matter.  Board Chairperson Thomas informed the Committee that the funding determination will be made in December.

Comm. Schafer stated it may be interesting to revisit the inmate billing process.  Inmates may prefer to pay for tethering than to be housed in the jail.  Comm. Schafer asked who responds to medical calls at the jail.  Mr. Spyke stated the Office has a contract with Mason Area Ambulance for medical services.  The preferred scenario is to have nurses on site 24 hours per day.  Dr. Sienko is working on this matter. 

Chairperson Holman stated this Committee should review the jail numbers soon.  Mr. Harless stated he would be happy to provide the Committee with this information. 

Chairperson Holman asked Comm. Copedge if he has any recommendations to keep things from 2007 moving in this Committee this year.  Comm. Copedge stated the Committee is on the right track.  The County should implement the tethering system as soon as possible. 

Mr. Neilsen stated Judge College would like this Committee and the Judiciary Committee to hear a presentation on the Wayne County facility.

1.         Interviews – Animal Control Advisory Committee

The Committee deferred their recommendation until their next caucus meeting.  The Board Coordinator will determine why the one applicant was not present this evening. 

Announcements

Comm. Schafer stated he read two articles in the Lansing State Journal with great dismay.  The articles dealt with Ingham County issues. 

Mr. Neilsen stated he and Mr. Myers attended a Lansing City Council intergovernmental relations meeting recently.  The people at this meeting seemed pleased with the County’s progress on the M/A COM issue.

Comm. Copedge stated he hopes the County keeps the road patrol issue on its radar.   Chairperson Holman stated this issue will be discussed by this Committee this year. 

Board Chairperson Thomas stated Sheriff Wriggelsworth asked to meet with him earlier this week to discuss road patrol options.  He further stated Sheriff Wriggelsworth seems interested in having this dialogue with the Committee. 

Public Comment           None

The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff