07-09-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

,-- 1. --- .-- JOINT MEETING--CASS COUNTY COMMISSION AND JAIL TRANSITION TEAM, COMMISSION ROOM, COURTHOUSE JULY 18,2001--9:00 AM MEETING TO ORDER Cass County Commission Chairman. John Meyer, called to order a joint meeting of the County Commissioners and the Jail Transition Team at 9:00 AM, on Monday, July 19. 2001. in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. The following Commissioners were present: Scott Wagner, Robyn Sorum, Donna Schneider and John Meyer. Commissioner Alon Wieland was absent. All Transition Team members were present as follows: Walt Willis, Michele Boucher. Carlos Perez. Kelly Perez, Linda Skogen. Bonnie Johnson and Mike Montplaisir. Also present were Sheriff Don Rudnick. Sheriff's Captain Glenn Ellingsberg, and Jail Consultant, Jim Rowenhorst. One local media representative was present. Errin Hemme- Froslie, from The Forum. 2. PURPOSE OF THE MEETING The purpose of today's informal meeting is to discuss staffing levels in the new Cass County Jail facility, which is scheduled to open next spring. Mr. Rowenhorst said the following issues should be discussed at this meeting: 1) number of pods to be opened initially; 2) shift relief factor; 3) positions and classifications; 4) coverage; 5) civilian vs. sworn officers; and 6) eight- hour vs. twelve-hour shifts. Mr. Rowenhorst asked everyone present if they had any further issues or concerns to discuss today. Mr. Meyer said he requested that the jail model be brought to the meeting from the transition team office, and that was furnished. A current organizational chart was provided. at the request of Mrs. Schneider, showing 34 FTE (full-time equivalent) jail staff members. Mr. Ellingsberg said he is concerned that the jail be staffed sufficiently so that staff in the Sheriff's Office are not used for the jail, thus making that office run short-staffed. He said part of the reason for the increased staffing level is the type of facility the county chose to build. 3. DISCUSSION, Consensus on several issues Opening four pods would provide bed space for 188 inmates, and opening three pods would provide 140 beds. according to Mr. Rowenhorst. The current jail population averages 112 inmates per day in a facility with a maximum capacity of 129. There was a consensus among the group not to open the female work release pod unless there are four or more female inmates eligible for work release. If there are fewer than that number, the county would use community facilities instead. Concerning discussion on the shift relief factor, a consensus was reached on using a figure of 60 hours off per employee per year for sick time and 75 training hours per employee per year. Based on other criteria also. a figure of 2.70 was arrived at for a total shift relief factor. From previous discussions among the Transition Team members, Mr. Rowenhorst and the Sheriff's Department, the estimated number of staff in the new jail is 71.8 based on an eight- hour shift and 74.6 based on a twelve-hour shift. New positions were discussed, and team members talked about the different classifications and separation of inmates. Mrs. Johnson said Position Analysis Questionnaires (PAQ's) for new and revised jail positions were referred to Fox Lawson Associates of Minneapolis.