DAKOTA COUNTY JAIL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Courthouse Board Room
PRESENT: Committee Members: Sally Reinert, Marlan Millard, Sandra Ehrich
(substituting for South Sioux City Mayor Bob Giese), Vincent Kramper and William
McLarty. Also in attendance were Rod Herron, Acting Jail Administrator, Ed
Matney, County Attorney and Joan Spencer, Secretary.
ABSENT: Non-voting advisory committee members: Scott Ford and Jim Wagner.
The meeting was called to order by Chair William McLarty at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call
was taken, the Pledge of Allegiance was said and reference to the posting of the
Open Meetings Act was brought to the attention of those in attendance.
Chair McLarty reviewed the role of the committee: (1) advisory body only with no
power but to make recommendations to the Board of Corrections for them to act
on; (2) act as a sounding board for Rod Herron; (3) seek ideas from the
community; (4) gain knowledge to answer questions about the jail from the
community; (4) build a better relationship between the community and the jail;
and (5) help Rod Herron.
The job description for Jail Administrator was discussed. Chair McLarty pointed
out that it was written by Rod Herron with input from Board of Corrections
member Jackie Hartnett and himself. He asked if anyone had any questions or
suggestions. Vincent Kramper asked for clarification on several items: (1)
Relieve from duty any personnel considered incapable of performing required
duties. Rod Herron confirmed that he had the power to hire and fire and noted
that the employee can use the Merit Commission to appeal and ask for a hearing
if he/she felt they were terminated unfairly. (2) Receive the complaints and
notification of the grievances of the employees, and use independent judgment…
Rod explained that he determines if he alone can address the complaint or if he
needs to seek input from the County Attorney or bring to the Board. (3)
…supervising a facility finance clerk. Rod confirmed that a finance clerk is
currently employed. (3) …Huber law… Rod said that refers to work release. (4)
…and alcohol and drug abuse screening service. Rod said we currently have
programs such as AAA come in every week at no cost. (5) Insure that all inmate
complaints are investigated. (6) Bachelor’s Degree or 10 years law enforcement.
Mr. Kramper was pleased to see the “or 10 years law enforcement” and not just
the Bachelor’s Degree.
Sandy Ehrich asked Rod if his position was as an interim and if he would go back
to the Sheriff’s Department after an administrator for the jail was hired. Chair
McLarty clarified that Rod could go back to the Sheriff’s Department if not
hired permanently for the Jail Administrator. Chair McLarty further explained
that the Board of Corrections currently has a contract with the Sheriff to
provide two deputies and they are Rod Heron and Randy Walsh. The finance clerk
splits her time between the Sheriff and Jail and her office is in the new jail.
Vincent Kramper asked if there were any applications being received. Chair
McLarty explained we were not yet at the point of placing an ad in the paper.
Wording, salary range, benefits and deadlines were discussed. Ed Matney said
NACO publishes a salary survey each year and suggested we compare our salary
range with that survey. He also asked if we were going to make this a
contractual position. Rod and Joan will work on the wording for a preliminary
ad.
Jim Gustin and Pat Moore, members of the Dakota City Volunteer Fire Department,
addressed the Committee regarding an Agreement concerning billing when Dakota
City Volunteer Fire Department transports a prisoner from the Dakota County Jail
to a medical facility.
Vincent Kramper motioned, seconded by Sandra Ehrich, to recommend the Board of
Corrections expedite and sign said contract.
ROLL CALL: Marlan Millard- yea, Sandy Ehrich- yea, Vincent Kramper- yea, Bill
McLarty- yea, Sally Reinert- yea. Unanimous motion carried.
It was noted that the Agreement will be with the Dakota County Board of
Corrections rather than Board of Commissioners, a date should be added, and one
signature representative of the Board and Fire Department by the Board of
Corrections Chair and Fire Chief would suffice.
A tour of the jail by the Jail Advisory Committee was discussed. It was the
consensus that a tour will be coordinated with the next Board of Corrections
quarterly tour.
McLarty asked for input on what the committee would like Rod to keep them
informed of. Sandy Ehrich said Bob Giese had made a note that he would like to
be kept updated on the costs as relating to the budget and the number of beds
full. Vincent Kramper noted he would like to be kept informed on the status of
the Federal and BIA contracts. Sally Reinert asked if Rod could take some time
each meeting to educate the committee so they can be more helpful to him.
Ed Matney thought this group could be helpful as constituents writing to their
Senator in regards to the federal and BIA prisoner contracts. The jail is ready
to receive the BIA prisoners, but we have not yet received any. Rod said he was
informed they will send them October 1st and with current jail capacity, we
could house the 30 maximum. He noted that some final finance paperwork needs to
be completed. Sally Reinert is in Winnebago two days a week and will make
contact with Lt. Greenwald. Bill McLarty and Vincent Kramper will make contact
with Representative Fortenberry’s aide.
Rod explained the BIA contract as $65.50 per day per inmate to house and $95.00
per day per inmate if asked to transport them to Winnebago court, clinic or
programs they have them enrolled in. Vincent Kramper asked if we would be
further ahead taking a maximum 30 BIA inmates and out boarding ours. The cost of
inmate housing, work release and juvenile boarding was discussed.
Chair McLarty summarized what the committee would like Rod Herron to keep them
informed on as cost, budget over or under, revenue/income from other sources,
occupancy, upcoming needs and inmate programs.
Marlan Millard asked why the jail no longer has inmates on job release helping
with maintenance of county roads. Rod Herron explained that the Judge is
involved in those considerations and the county’s liability issue is a concern.
Vincent Kramper asked if something could be done on the east fence of the
exercise yard to lessen inmate interaction with public walking by. Rod will
check on the feasibility of blocking or partially blocking the east view of the
inmates.
Rod Herron did a brief overview of jail operations. Each member received a copy
of Post Orders, Policies and Procedures, to review. Additional duties not
specifically listed that the jail staff handles are visitors, bonding, phone
calls, fingerprinting, criminal checks, and taking inmates to court. Five to six
people work per shift. It was the consensus of the committee to not make copies
of the Policy and Procedures manual for security reasons. Copies can be made of
a specific page on a need-to-know basis. A copy is available for review in the
jail.
Meeting dates and times were discussed. Due to the urgency of getting an ad in
the paper for a jail administrator, it was agreed to recess this meeting of
September 19th to 7:30 a.m., Friday, September 28th, to be held in the Jail
Conference Room.
Rod Herron presented his concerns regarding juveniles. He would like the Jail
Advisory Committee to look into housing juveniles someplace other than Madison.
The cost to house juvenile since 2004 is $995,880. Woodbury County will not
house juveniles once they are sentenced. Possibilities discussed were Bryant
School, old jail as a temporary holding facility, Boys and Girls Home, working
with surrounding counties, the education component, staff-secure facility or
lock down.
There was no public comment or emergency business.
At 8:45 p.m. Chair McLarty recessed the meeting to 7:30 a.m., September 28th in
the Jail Conference Room.
Jail Advisory Committee
September 28, 2007, 7:30 a.m.
Jail Conference Room
PRESENT: Bob Giese, William McLarty, Sally Reinert and Vincent Kramper. Also in
attendance were Scott Ford, South Sioux City Police Chief, Rod Herron, Acting
Jail Administrator, Ed Matney, County Attorney and Joan Spencer, Secretary.
ABSENT: Marlan Millard and Jim Wagner.
Chair McLarty called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. Roll call was taken.
A vice-chair position was discussed. It was the consensus of the committee to
have Jackie Hartnett, Vice-Chair of the Board of Corrections, serve as
vice-chair and preside over the Jail Advisory Committee meetings if Chair
McLarty is absent.
The wording for the ad for the jail administrator was discussed. Changes made
reflect that the facility should be described as having 164 beds; the position
should be referred to as Director of Corrections; and salary range was decided
on as $40,000 to $50,000. The ad should be placed as soon as possible and the
deadline to receive resumes is to be October 20th. It will read as follows:
“DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS. Dakota County, Nebraska, is seeking a Director of
Corrections. Responsibilities include planning, organizing, implementing and
directing all operations, personnel and programs in our 164-bed Correctional
Facility.
BA degree or 10 years law enforcement or related field. Benefits: Medical,
Dental and Life Insurance, Retirement Plan. Salary range: $40,000 to $50,000.
Send resume to Administrative Assistant, PO Box 338, Dakota City NE 68731,
jspencer@dakotacountyne.org Deadline October 20, 2007.”
Bob Giese asked about prison labor for public projects. Rod Herron said that
involves the judges approval and we are pursuing liability insurance to make
this more feasible.
Inmates would be screened similar to work release and house arrest programs.
Bob Giese asked about contracting with a private company or contractor to
administer the jail. Rod Herron cited Hall County and stated that Jail Standards
does not approve of it and without their approval, things might not be able to
run as smoothly. Two deputies will still be needed, coordination and good
working relations with the Sheriff’s Department and jail personnel is important.
Rod Herron stated he was hoping to hear from BIA today to let him know if we are
awarded their contract. Next month Immigration will be inspecting the
correctional facility to possibly house their inmates with us. Immigration
requires a law library, which can be on line and software programs on the
computer and they also require two hot meals a day. The contract with CBM
Foodservice will need to be reviewed if we are to provide two hot meals.
The BIA contract was discussed and things done to insure we get the contract.
Both Vincent Kramper and Rod Herron have talked with Representative
Fortenberry’s office and Greta Baker with BIA. Vincent Kramper also talked with
Frank LaMere about Mr. LaMere’s main concerns. Chair McLarty and Mayor Bob Giese
will be traveling to Washington D.C. in October and will stop in at the BIA
office.
Vincent Kramper asked Rod if has made any progress regarding the east side of
the jail exercise yard and public interaction aspect. Rod did not think slats
were a good idea and will make an effort to get with the supervisor of building
and maintenance.
Bob Giese was concerned about the salary range being offered for the Director of
Corrections. He thought we might me loosing some good candidates with a $40,000
to $50,000 range. Scott Ford thought it was a competitive wage for this area.
Sally Reinert shared that she had spoken with Barbara Redler of Redler Pharmacy
where the jail fills their prescriptions. Redler Pharmacy will be asked to talk
to the committee at a future meeting. Saving money on prescription costs was
discussed.
The importance of liability insurance to cover a catastrophic event was
reiterated.
The next meeting date was planned for Friday, November 2nd at 7:30 a.m. in the
Jail Conference Room.
Chair McLarty adjourned the meeting at 8:27 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Spencer
Secretary
Jail Advisory Committee
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