By Rick Longley/Staff writer
The 2008-2009 Glenn County grand jury report is critical of some county agencies, but it heaped praise on others.
The Glenn County Board of Supervisors "meets the county's need for a prudent, responsive governing board and should be commended," states the report released June 30.
Members of the jury attended a number of board meetings from January to May. They found board members stayed on schedule and focused on agenda items in the time allowed.
"Discussions among board members were respectful and to the point," the report says. "Differences were discussed and voted on in general session." They recommend local residents attend board meetings occasionally to better understand county operations.
Board Chairman Mike Murray said, "I appreciate their attending the meetings and their comments. It is not often we hear good things like that."
Jail reviewed in report
The Glenn County Jail also received good marks for general operations in its annual review by the grand jury. The report did note a need for another lieutenant to supervise while transportation officers are away from the jail, and two more correctional officers to reduce overtime.
Sheriff Larry Jones said the jail originally had 18 correctional officers allocated, but two are on transportation duty taking inmates to various locations in the state. The remaining 16 officers must cope with an understaffed guard tower among other issues.
The sally port entrance needs expansion for the safety of jail personnel, and the air-conditioning units need replacement as the "equipment continually freezes up limiting cool air to the jail facility during the summer," jurors said. The laundry facility also needs the washer and dryer replaced with higher capacity, energy-efficient units and the laundry area expanded, the report said.
Improvements at the jail include installation of a video arraignment program; installation of a metal detector in booking; and use of a new fingerprinting scanning system. Prisoner meals got good reviews for quality along with the jail's kitchen facility.
Those improvments are dramatic, Jones said, and have made operations easier for everyone involved.
"I appreciate the jury's diligence," he said. "It takes time to tour this facility and grasp what is going on here."
Juvenile hall
The report on Jane Hahn Juvenile Hall suggested the facility "was clean and orderly with adequate and mandated supplies" during a November visit by grand jurors.
In addition, the report said, "The administration and staff are to be commended for their professionalism and care for the juveniles in their charge."
However, jurors said the Board of Supervisors "must adequately fund this facility allowing for California state standards to be maintained for staffing and building maintenance."
Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com
http://www.orland-press-register.com/news/report-3779-jail-board.html
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