04-07-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes—April 7, 2014 4280 9. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Securus Technologies contract amendment approved for jail inmate phone services The county currently has a contract with Securus Technologies for jail inmate phone services. Captain Andy Frobig said on February 11, 2014, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed interstate calling rates; therefore, the contract needs to be formally amended to reflect the change. He said rates are capped at 21 cents per minute for pre-paid calls and 25 cents per minute for collect calls. The county will no longer receive commissions on interstate calls made by inmates. The Sheriffs Office projected $97,000 in revenues for 2014, and this change will result in a 25% reduction or $24,000 less in revenues received this year. MOTION, passed Mr. Vanyo moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to authorize the chairman to sign the first amendment to the master services agreement with Securus Technologies to reflect FCC regulations which place a cap on rates collected for interstate calling services. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 10. COUNTY CORONER, Office to be relocated to new Fargo Cass Public Health building Keith Berndt, Cass County Administrator, said the Building Committee met last month to review bids to renovate space in the former Sunmart building for Fargo Cass Public Health. The City of Fargo included an alternate bid for County Coroner space. The committee recommended the Cass County Commission consider the space in the proposed facility for the County Coroner. Mr. Berndt said the board has four options to consider: 1) move forward with the proposal with the City of Fargo located in the former Sunmart building; 2) continue "as is" with the Coroner's Office housed at the Cass County Courthouse; 3) renovate space in the Courthouse for storage of bodies; or 4) construct new space for the coroner (i.e. within a future juvenile detention/alternative housing facility). Mr. Berndt said it will cost around $25,000 to fit up space in the lower level of the Courthouse to store bodies. The proposed space within the Sunmart building will cost $408,000 to renovate in addition to fiber optic and design costs for a total cost of about $475,000. He said it would cost between $700,000 and $725,000 for space within a new county building. Mr. Peterson is extremely satisfied with the bids received and advocates the County Coroner be re-located in the former Sunmart building. He said the proposal provides quality long-term space that will occur within the next year. He said currently the county is providing a "serviceable" level with the space at the Courthouse. The new space is available at a very reasonable cost of $80 per square foot and includes some equipment for the Coroner's Office. Mrs. Scherling is struggling with the request to relocate the office since it currently is in close proximity to the Sheriff's Office, whose staff provides back up for the death investigators. She is concerned about communication with the office if it is moved to the new Fargo Cass Public Health building, and is unsure if all options have been investigated.