The Glenn County Grand Jury report is on the
street and ready for review. Each agency addressed by the Grand Jury is now
tasked with preparing a response.
One of the most controversial reports was for
the Orland Unified School District, with several management practices called
into question. For example, the Grand Jury said that Co-Stars Grant funds
appear to have been used to pay for stipends for specific employees, which the
Grand Jury states was not appropriate. It is recommended that those funds be
paid back.
“This is not a form of additional compensation
for individuals performing their usual and customary duties and
responsibilities in support of the grant,” the Grand Jury reported.
The Grand Jury also pegs the districts with
poor policies on keeping track of employee hours and sick leave. A new policy is
also needed for district credit card spending, including double checking those
purchases.
The full document can be viewed online on the
county’s website at www.countyofglenn.net.
Butte City
The Grand Jury spent some time trying to get
a response from the Butte City Community District. The district handles water
for Butte City, and the pipes are believed to be in very poor condition.
Last year the Grand Jury developed some
questions, including whether the county should have more involvement in the
water situation in Butte City. The board of the district never responded to
last year’s concerns. When the Grand Jury tried to connect with the district
again this year, they were not able to complete an interview.
Juvenile Hall
As with several issues reviewed by the Grand
Jury, low funding leads to problems at the juvenile hall, the group concluded.
Right now, staff are working overtime because officers are out on medical leave
after attacks by juveniles. One recommendation is to set up security protocols
for the use of stun guns to discourage juvenile attacks.
The group also recommended checking with
local religious leaders to see if more services can be provided at the jail.
At one point, closure of the juvenile hall
was being considered. The Grand Jury concludes this is not a good route to
take, and that juveniles from nearby counties could be housed in Glenn County
to make the facility more cost-efficient.
County jail
The Grand Jury looked into the county jail
again this year for another review of the impacts of Assembly Bill 109, which
keeps certain prisoners in the local jail rather than in a state prison.
The Grand Jury concluded that funding does
not adequately cover maintenance at the jail. Also, there are seven unpaid
positions at the jail. A big problem is that after staff are trained, they
often relocate to other counties where wages are higher, the report concludes.
In other inquiries, the Grand Jury gave high
remarks to the Orland Volunteer Fire Department, and recommended finding a way
to fund replacement of aging equipment. The group also looked into the county
Animal Control program and found no wrong-doing.
June
26, 2015
Chico
Enterprise-Record
By
Heather Hacking
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