Grand Jury report focuses on five Butte County departments

By RYAN OLSON -- Staff Writer
Posted: 06/24/2011 06:41:29 PM PDT

OROVILLE — The new report from the Butte County Grand Jury focused on five Butte County departments or agencies.

The 2010-11 report was released and published online after a brief hearing Friday at the Butte County Superior Court. The report includes sections for five county agencies, the city of Gridley, a police task force and a special district. There was also a review of ethics training at 24 special districts.

According to the report, the Grand Jury evaluated some agencies based on recent events, such as the opening of the new Chico substation of the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District. Media coverage and resident comments prompted a review of the Butte County Library.

Other agencies — the jail and juvenile hall — were evaluated because the law requires annual reviews.

Overall, the panel didn't appear to find significant faults with most of the agencies. In some cases, it called for some minor improvements — such as installing a security fence in the parking lot of the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force, South office.

The jury noted the heavy use of the county's libraries and called for the county to improve building maintenance and to evaluate the hours of operation.

In juvenile hall, the jury called for the continuation of the Boys and Girls Club program and to seek contingency funding for the program in case of state cutbacks.

For the jail, the panel found that the women's facility needs maintenance, including an malfunctioning ventilation system that hasn't been resolved over several years. The jury also called for plans to reinstate the GED and educational programs after noting the GED program is currently limited to independent study and the kitchen program is the only vocational offering.

County department and agency heads have 60 days to respond to the reports, while other governmental bodies have 90 days.

The report was the culmination of work for the 18 county residents who served on the Grand Jury over the past year. During Friday's hearing, presiding Judge Steven Howell thanked the outgoing panel and released them from their service.

Margaret Worley, the outgoing forewoman, noted there was some lively discussion and effort by her colleagues.

"We just really came together and it was a wonderful experience," Worley said.

She also thanked the court for providing an office and the library for the jury to use. Worley noted it is the first year that the Grand Jury had a permanent place to meet and keep its research.

The public portion of Friday's hearing concluded with the seating of next year's Grand Jury. A court employee drew the names of the 19 community members to serve as the jury. Another 10 names were drawn as alternates, in case a juror is unable to finish the year's service.

Last year, two people had to leave the jury early, and a third juror, Jim Fisher, died.

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