WORKING MEETING
August 18, 2015
Convened: 9:00 AM
Present:
Commissioner Vrablic, Commissioner Swift, Commissioner Olney, Commissioner Houtz and
Commissioner Hazelbaker.
Also Present: Donald Reid of the Daily Reporter, Sheriff Pollack, Treasurer Ann Vrablic, County Clerk
Teresa Kubasiak, County Complex Manager Scott Walls, Johnson Controls Dan Mack and
Administrator Bud Norman
The Agenda was approved
PERSONNEL, PLANS & POLICY______________________(Commissioner Houtz)
Staffing Request-Sheriff Department
The Sheriff is requesting to fill two vacant full time positions at the Sheriff’s Department. Currently they have four
temporary part time individuals whose training will be completed at the end of next week. Further discussion will
take place once the rate of pay is determined.
Strategic Planning
Administrator Norman spoke to the committee regarding the jail plan. There was discussion at the last working
meeting to consider a mileage to be on the August 2016 ballot. The deadline is May 10, 2016 for the ballot
wording to be submitted to the Clerk for the August 2016 election. Three options were presented on how to
proceed. After much discussion a motion was made to bring forward a recommendation to waive the RFP process
and hire a company to conduct a study. During discussion of the motion it was amended to recommend that Byce
from Kalamazoo do the study. They are familiar with the jail, as they had submitted their recommendation when
renovations to the visiting room were being discussed. The motion was approved with Swift voting no. The
committee recommends:
Motion by
and seconded by
to suspend board rules and waive the RFP process
and allow Byce out of Kalamazoo to conduct the study for the new jail.
SHERIFF & PUBLIC SAFETY__________________________(Commissioner Swift)
911 Report
A written report was submitted for review. July 2015: Law Enforcement: 4,525 (2015)/4,778 (2014), Fire: 245
(2015)/241 (2014), Emergency Medical: 348 (2015)/337 (2014). Total Events: July 2015 -5,405/July 2014- 5,437.
LifeCare Ambulance Report
The LifeCare Ambulance report was submitted via email after the work meeting. July: 212 Priority 1 Responses;
Late – 33 (84.4%). There were 198 Priority 3 Responses, 2 Citizen Assistance Calls, 66 Pre-Scheduled/Interfacility,
and 8 Public Service/Event Coverage.
Undersheriff Report
Total Arrests:
Total Citations:
Traffic Accidents:
Total Car/Deer Accidents :
____________________________ _
51
96 of the 96, Secondary Road: 82
20
10
(July/2015)
Reserve Deputies:
Posse:
105 hours
12 hours
Overtime: Road patrol -159.5 hours
Corrections-483.5 hours
Court-32.5 hours
50 pounds of prescription drugs collected.
2 Meth Lab.
Jail Administrator’s Report__
Average Daily Count for July:
Average break down:
_______
_
________ (July/2015)
146
117 males/29 females
As of 8/2/15 count is 153 with 30 females.
Jail Incidents for July: 49
Sheriff’s Report
Sheriff Pollack spoke briefly about the recent female inmate jail overcrowding. He stated that they will
be implementing a female jail overcrowding policy; noting that the jail was built with 6 bunks to hold 12
female occupants. Currently there are 9 bunks to hold 18 occupants. The jail is averaging 20-25 females;
at times it could reach the upper 30’s.
One of the females that were transferred to Calhoun County had to have emergency surgery and has
returned to the jail in Calhoun County. There are 6 remaining females in Calhoun County, with 3
scheduled to be released by Friday. Sheriff Pollack said they will look at their numbers after the 20th to
see if they can bring any of the female inmates back to Branch County.
2014-Annual Report-Sheriff’s Department
Sheriff Pollack presented his 2014 annual report to the committee. He briefly talked about 2014 being
the year of adjustments. He stated that the Sheriff’s Office had to learn that they could no longer
provide the type of services the citizens of the county had come to expect. The written report included
information and stats from the various areas that the Sheriff oversees.
Safety Committee Report
The health monitoring system is up and running. So far 5 people have been trained. Training needs to
take place if you want to set up an account that will allow you to track your results.
Medical Director of Medical Control Authority Message
A letter from Dr. David V. Fuchs Medical Director of Emergency Services at CHC, was received
acknowledging EMS efforts in saving a motorcyclist life after a recent accident that occurred in
Kinderhook Township. The letter stated that the expertise of our EMS system is not appreciated by many
in our county and that the EMS response team consists of highly trained qualified individuals who
deserve the respect and praise of our county residents.
HOUSE_____________________________________ (Commissioner Hazelbaker)
Human Services Building-Tenant
Administrator Norman indicated that the Community Action Agency is looking at the available office
space at the Human Services Building. The space is a fit of what they need. The Committee
Recommends:
Motion by
and seconded by
for the Administrator
to move forward with tenant discussions with Community Action Agency
for space at the Human Services building.
Tire Recycling Event-Brochure- NOTE: Exact Amount Needed for Large Tire Recycling (One Trailer)
The tire recycling event will take place on August 22nd, from 9am-noon at the Human Services Building
parking lot. Seven tires per vehicle will be allowed, with an additional fee of $11.25 per tire for tractor
tires. Loader tires would be $75 per tire. Exact amount needed for large tire recycling.
FINANCE______________________
_________________(Commissioner Olney)
Consent Agenda
Motion by
and seconded by
that authorization is given
to approve the following items by Consent Agenda; Bills & Accounts, Special
Fund Brownfield Redevelopment Hazardous (#253-696)-Budget Amendment
Bills & Accounts
Administrator Norman presented a summary of the Bills and Accounts that consisted of 95 invoices (Jail
Operations-Board and Care-39%, Jail Operations-Commissary Supplies-10%, Building Repair and
Maintenance-10%, Equipment Repair and Maintenance-9% and Supplies -7%) to make up 75% of the
invoices. The Committee Recommends:
Motion by
and seconded by
and Accounts in the amount of $182,816.20.
to approve the Bills
Special Fund Brownfield Redevelopment Hazardous (#253-696)-Budget Amendment
The request is to correct a few errors that were found in a previous audit. The $400 is to pay Bank of
New York Mellon agent fees. The Committee Recommends:
696from $0.00
Motion by
and seconded by
to AMEND Special Fund Budget #253Brownfield Redevelopment Fund-Hazardous Revenue and Expense by $6,000.00
to $6,000.00, as presented.
Energy Savings-Funding
Administrator Norman talked to the committee on some options for the funding for the Energy Savings
plan. They ran into some issues with the Act 99 funding. Johnson Controls will be getting quotes on 15
year bonds and 10 year energy conservation notes. The estimated time frame for energy improvement
bonds or notes to be completed by October 15th. In order for Johnson Controls to stay on track with
their timeline to take care of climate issues at the courthouse, Administrator Norman is proposing that
$235,000 is taken out of Capital Outlay and Contingencies for the boiler system. This will leave a
balance of $15,628.34 in Capital Outlay and Contingencies until the 15 th of October, when the money
will be paid back to those accounts. The Committee Recommends:
Motion by
and seconded by
to approve that $235,000 be taken out of
Capital Outlay and Contingences for the boiler system under the Energy Savings Plan.
Motion by
and seconded by
approving the Resolution for the Capital
Improvement Project and approving insertion of Notice of Intention of the County of
Branch to issue Capital Improvement Bonds.
INFORMATION
2016-Draft #1-General Fund
The Administrator explained that almost all of the budget hearings have been completed. The proposed
Budget, based on Departmental Budget hearing Expenses $17,958,802.88 and Revenues $12,682,735.90
= $5.3M deficit. $3.5 M of the $5.3 is Capital Outlay expenditures. A listing of additional expenditures
that different departments are requesting was also provided, which contributes to the $5.3M deficit.
Draft #2 will be submitted at the second Work Meeting in September.
LEGISLATIVE_____________________________________(Commissioner Vrablic)
Proposed Resolution to Legislators-Secondary Road Patrol Grant
On July 31st , Sheriff Pollack was informed that the Department did not meet the Maintenance of Effort
(MOE) for the secondary road grant. Due to the layoffs in 2013 the numbers were below the MOE. Last
year legislature came up with a bill that allowed them to be exempt. Representative McCready is
sponsoring a bill to do the same. Sheriff Pollack is hoping that the Committee will adopt a Resolution
supporting Representative McCready’s bill.
Motion by
and seconded by
approving the Resolution In support of
House Concurrent Resolution 14 of 2015, regarding secondary road patrol funding.
It was moved and seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss POAM Union Negotiations at 10:58
am. A roll call vote was taken.
The committee returned to open session at 11: 15 am, there upon adjourning.
Submitted by: Commissioner Vrablic
Commissioner Olney
Commission Houtz
Commissioner Swift
Commissioner Hazelbaker