Placer County Grand jury lists recycling program, juvenile hall concerns

Animal shelter facility is satisfactory, report says
By Jenifer Gee,Journal Staff Writer

A Placer County grand jury report released this week highlights the inadequacy of a recycling program, the lack of response from Placer’s juvenile hall and the future of the animal shelter’s new site.

The 2008-2009 report investigated various departments and programs. Here is a summary of the highlights:

Blue Bag Recycling Program

The grand jury wrote that the program, which is a voluntary program in Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis and unincorporated areas of the county, be eliminated.

The 2007-08 jury recommended the same outcome. The current jury wrote that after reinvestigating the matter, they “determined the residents’ time, effort and expense were of marginal value to any of the jurisdictions’ recycling programs while additional costs were incurred in processing the intact bags.”

Auburn City Mayor Mike Holmes, however, disagreed.

He said the grand jury’s report was forwarded to city staff to review, but he believes the city will continue with the program.

“In my personal opinion, I don’t think the grand jury has given us any persuasive argument to do away with the blue bag program,” Holmes said.

Holmes said the program helps the city keep track of how much it’s recycling. He said the city’s goal was to be recycling about 50 percent of its waste and currently is above that mark.

“The solid waste management board encourages us to recycle as much as possible,” Holmes said. “At least with the blue bag program, we have some data that helps us ascertain what percentage is being recycled.”

Placer County Auburn Animal Shelter

Jury members said the current facility, while older, is “satisfactory.”

The report noted that the replacement of the Auburn site is scheduled for 2013 but relies on the construction of a new facility in South Placer to serve Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln.

The grand jury did not request a response to this report.

Placer County Juvenile Detention Facility

This year’s grand jury agreed with two prior grand juries that the facility should install more surveillance cameras to protect detainees and staff. The grand jury wrote that “little or no progress” has been made in installing the cameras.

In response to prior reports, facility officials indicated they are working to resolve the issue.

For more information about the Placer grand jury, visit placergrandjury.org or call (530) 886-5200.

The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.

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