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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-2021 Public Protection & Judiciary Minutes MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC PROTECTION & JUDICIARY COMMITTEE August 5, 2021 8:00 AM St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1284 Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Attendee Name Organization Title Status Arrived Daniel Hansen St. Croix County Supervisor Present Bob Feidler St. Croix County Chair Present Cathy Leaf St. Croix County Vice Chair Present Paul Berning St. Croix County Supervisor Present Shelly Tomtschik St. Croix County Supervisor Present Others Present: County Administrator Ken Witt, Sheriff Scott Knudson, Support Services Director Susan Capparelli, Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner, Child Support Administrator Lisa Plunkett, Judge Scott Needham, Judge Scott Nordstrand, meeting organizer Janet Smith. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Public Protection & Judiciary Committee – Regular Meeting – July 1, 2021 8:00 AM Minutes were approved by a Leaf/Hansen motion. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Financial Report for June 2021 County Administrator Ken Witt reviewed the Financial Report (attached in agenda packet) through June 2021. Mr. Witt drew the committee's attention to the overtime budgets. He noted these are offset by vacancies within those departments. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Circuit Court update Judge Scott Needham reported Rebecca Rohan has started as the Register in Probate, Susan Lokken has accepted the first deputy position. The second deputy position is open. Judge Needham discussed staffing problem in the Clerk of Court. Currently, there are three openings in that position. The transition from a law enforcement to civilian Day Report Center has created other changes to processes. Court Services now handles bookings, finger prints, and mug shots. Needham discussed DRC concerns. Three months ago testing was happening for 140 people. We currently are testing approximately 20 people not including the drug court people. The Huber program is going to a fully electronic home monitoring system. The courts and sheriff's office continue to work together. Judge Nordstrand spoke in support of what Judge Needham stated. Discussion on the staffing for the Day Report Center. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Medical Examiner's Office Update Medical Examiner Patty Examiner attended a Medical Examiner and Coroner conference. Biggest topic was in the USA from 1982 to 2021 drug overdoses has increased 859%. Ramsey county has a lodox which is a 2d picture which is used to rule out trauma. A new Lodox is $650,000. A reconditioned 16 slice CT machine would be $198,500. Will be meeting with Facilities director Jim Elsbury to discuss electrical needs/costs. Details provided in this agenda packet. Discussion. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Follow-up discussion from jail inspection on staffing and incidents Sheriff Scott Knudson spoke about the issues with staffing. The problem with getting qualified applicants is affecting all Law Enforcement agencies throughout the state. The Sheriff spoke on some recent resignations. There is an active internal investigation in the jail. There are background checks being conducted and interviews for possible correction officers. The Sheriff will continue to hold people accountable for their actions and will let people go for bad conduct. A tragic incident in the jail with the death of an inmate. The investigation is being conducted by Pierce County Sheriff's Office and Polk County Medical Examiner. The results may take weeks or months to be completed. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Medical Examiner Line item recommendation for the CT 16 slice machine. Supervisor Hansen suggests having a discussion on Drug Addiction in SCC with Bob Rohret and Drug and Alcohol counselors (AODA). Discussion on appropriateness of this on the Public Protection agenda. BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE 1. August is Child Support Awareness Month Proclamation RESULT: DISCUSSED RECESS FOR JAIL INSPECTION Recessed at 9:02 AM in order to proceed to the jail. 1. Annual Jail Inspection The committee reconvened in the jail lobby. The committee was lead through the facility by Sheriff Scott Knudson, Chief Deputy Cathy Borgschatz, Captain Kris Anderson and Lieutenant Tim Kufus. Facilities Director Jim Elsbury explained some of the improvements made to the facility in the past year. RESULT: DISCUSSED RECONVENE FROM JAIL INSPECTION IN ROOM D203 ADJOURN Meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM DATE OF NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021