01-08-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--January 8, 1991 603 Sheriff Don Rudnick said the committee is requesting funds to hire an architect to provide a cost estimate for remodeling. He said the amount of time the County is required to hold people for alcohol- related offenses will impact space problems in the jail. By remodeling, he hopes it will solve space problems in the present jail for the next 5-10 years. Royce Yeater of Yeater, Hennings, Ruff, Shultz, Rokke Architects, Inc. offered a proposal to undertake a study to include preparation of plan drawings, probable project cost to implement remodeling and an implementation schedule which will minimize disruption to ongoing operations. He originally submitted a proposal to do said work for $8,000, but Mrs. Johnson said Glenn Ellingsberg prepared blueprints for the project and showed them to Mr. rearer, who then reduced his proposal by $3,000. Architect's findings and cost estimates should be available for the next judicial panel committee meeting scheduled for February 6, 1991. MOTION, passed Mrs. Toussaint moved and Mr. Risher seconded to appropriate $5,000 to the judicial panel to continue studying the feasibility of reconfiguration for the jail and former Sheriff residence to help solve work release, booking and DUI oversight problems. Mr. Wieland asked if other architects were considered, and Mrs. Johnson said Royce rearer was chosen because of his expertise in jails. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. 24. JAIL CONTRACT, Fee increase Jail space and staffing was the subject of a meeting held Monday, January 7, 1991, in the Cass County Commission Room between Cass County and City of Fargo representatives, according to County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson. It has been estimated that Fargo Municipal Judge Thomas Davies' order to hold people detained for alcohol related offenses until they are sober will increase the jail population by over 500 annually. This new municipal court policy will immediately increase jail staffing needs and may necessitate reconfiguration of the structure, thus adding substantial new costs for the County. The County may be faced with terminating the existing agreement between the County and City of Fargo for housing municipal prisoners if an acceptable amendment to the contract for these increased costs cannot be reached by both parties. Sheriff Rudnick estimated it will cost approximately $10.00 per hour more in staff time to oversee prisoners being held for detox reasons, and he said approximately 70% of the detox prisoners are from the City of Fargo. He recommended that the City of Fargo be assessed an additional $7.00 per hour for the number of hours the jail staff oversees municipal prisoners in the detox area. Mr. Risher asked if the City of Fargo has been included in any of the discussions, and Mr. Wieland said the Fargo Police Chief, City Attorney and Finance Director were present at Monday's meeting. They seemed agreeable to this on a short-term basis. The County will look at preparing a new contract on a long-term basis.