10-02-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-October 2, 2000 2204 6. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Law enforcement block grant award MOTION, passed Mrs. Schneider moved and Mr. Koenig seconded to authorize the Sheriff's Department to accept the 2000 law enforcement block grant award in the amount of $16,476, with a local match of 10% to be paid from the asset forfeiture funds. The public hearing on these funds was held at the September 18, 2000, Commission meeting. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. 7. JOINT DISPATCH SERVICES, Contract update Captain Glenn Ellingsberg, Sheriffs Department, reported on a meeting last Thursday with the Fargo City Attorney and Fargo Police Chief to review the terms of the dispatch services contract. Gary Stewart, Fargo City Attorney, will prepare the contract and forward it to Birch Burdick, Cass County State's Attorney, for approval and placement on the Commission agenda in the near future. 8. JAIL, Fee policy for inmates under work release program Captain Walt Willis, Jail Administrator, was asked to update the commission on the fee policy for housing inmates at the residential facilities of Centre, Inc. and Sharehouse. In a letter from the Commission Chairman, John Meyer, dated August 28,2000, itwas noted that Commissioner Wieland and Chief Deputy Jim Thoreson were instrumental in securing legislation that allows for the recovery of such a fee. Attached to the letter was a copy of the North Dakota Century Code 12-44.1-18.2 which indicates the inmate should either pay the actual cost of the daily rate at the half-way house or the amount of funds earned by the inmate, whichever is less. This law became effective August 1, 1999. The fee for inmates housed in the jail and in residential facilities was increased from $10 to $15 per day when new contracts were signed for this year, according to Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis said some inmates pay to serve their sentence at other facilities, such as those who appear in court and request to be sentenced to a halfway house and are granted permission, providing they pay the entire cost themselves. Other inmates do not pay a fee for being housed in residential facilities, which are used for overflow, because it was not their choice to go there. 9. JAIL TRANSITION PLAN UPDATE, Computer hardware/software report Captain Ellingsberg gave a preliminary report on his study of the jail's computer information system. The board asked him to evaluate the present hardware and software, which is being modified by the county's information services staff and to weigh that against purchasing a software package from a vendor. Mr. Ellingsberg interviewed about one-half of the jail staff asking if they are comfortable with the current software, how they would rate it, and whether they feel problems are being addressed in a satisfactory manner. The majority of those questioned seem to be satisfied with the modifications being made by county staff. Robert Holmbeck, County Information Services Director, was also present for today's discussion. Mr. Ellingsberg said it is important for the information services staff to continue devoting as much time as possible to the project so it can be completed and specific items can be addressed in a short time frame.