Problems with the county jail
historically dominate the annual grand jury report and this year was no
different.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors
issued its response to the report, July 21, addressing the jail and the
county’s emergency communications system, also a focus of the report.
“For the most part, the response agrees
with the findings and recommendations,” said County Counsel Craig Settlemire,
as he presented the response to the supervisors for approval.
Deputy County Counsel Steve Mansell wrote
the response, drawing on input from the supervisors.
This year, the grand jury released
portions of the report as they were completed, rather than waiting until the
end to release one comprehensive report.
This gives us more time to respond to each,”
Supervisor Sherrie Thrall said.
The board approved the response without
discussion.
The
jail
“New jail inspection, same old problems,”
read the title of the grand jury’s report pertaining to the jail.
The report enumerated four findings,
ranging from inadequate to noncompliant, all of which the supervisors agreed
with.
The report went on to make six
recommendations that the board has implemented to varying degrees.
Recommendation 1: That the board of
supervisors “fully commit to build a new jail to replace the current jail
facility, which is antiquated and inadequate.”
Response: Implemented. “The Board of
Supervisors is fully committed to exploring every avenue available. …”
Recommendation 2: That the board
“continue to support the grant writing opportunity that has been started by
CGL.” If the grant is awarded, the board “should facilitate the building of the
new jail facility in Plumas County immediately.”
Response: Implemented. The board fully
supports the grant application and if it is awarded, “anticipates that
construction will begin as soon as reasonably possible.”
Recommendation 3: If the grant is not
awarded, the board should “fund the replacement of kitchen equipment” in the
current jail.
Response: Implemented. The equipment has
already been replaced.
Recommendation 4: That the jail be
brought into compliance with the ADA.
Response: Partially implemented. The
board describes compliance as “an ongoing process,” that, hopefully, will be
rendered moot if a new jail is built.
Recommendation 5: That the jail’s
sobering cell be brought into compliance with state guidelines.
Response: Not yet implemented. If a grant
for the new jail is not secured, then funding to address the sobering cell will
be sought.
Recommendation 6: That the board pursue
other funding opportunities if the grant is not awarded for the new jail.
Response: Not yet implemented. If the
grant is not received, Plumas County “will continue to be aggressive in
pursuing other potential avenues to fund a new jail facility.”
Emergency
communications
The grand jury made five findings and 10
recommendations to address the county’s emergency communications system. The
supervisors agreed with all of the findings, which addressed issues such as
reliability, effectiveness, cost and technology.
Many of the recommendations have already
been implemented, or will be soon.
Recommendation 1: That the supervisors
and the county’s Office of Emergency Services “negotiate with the power company
to prevent potential disconnects on public service radio sites due to non-payment.”
Response: Will be implemented in the
future. The director of the OES will spearhead the effort.
Recommendation 2: Testing backup power
systems at all radio sites on a regular basis.
Response: Not fully implemented. The
board understands that the “OES director and sheriff are already pursuing such
testing.”
Recommendation 3: That the sheriff’s
office and fire districts conduct field-testing to identify areas that are
known to be “poor communication zones.”
Response: Not fully implemented. The
board agrees that it is important to know where the gaps are and to support
efforts to identify them.
Recommendation 4: That the board of
supervisors, sheriff and OES director set up a working committee to meet
periodically to address communication issues.
Response: Implemented.
Recommendation 5: That the board work
with “Cal Fire for interoperability into the Cal Fire mobile radio system.”
Response: Implemented.
Recommendation 6: That the board and OES
“review potential rate increases and explore measures and alternatives that
ensure the stability of the Emergency Medical System radio system.”
Response: Implemented. “The Emergency
Medical Care Council is currently investigating various funding options and
working to ensure consistency with the three hospitals throughout the county.”
Recommendation 7: That the board works
with the sheriff to build “their own sites at specific locations where private
carrier activity is affecting and pushing rental costs at shared site tower and
vaults beyond affordability.”
Response: Implemented. “The sheriff’s
office is actively pursuing establishing county-owned sites, where feasible.”
Recommendation 8: That all entities stay
“informed on technology and work closely with vendors and experts to find a
system that can provide reliable service and widespread coverage.”
Response. Implemented.
Recommendation 9: Pursue a cooperative
relationship with Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative “in considering the
possibility of using their fiber network as means to provide an alternative to
the present radio system.”
Response. Will be implemented. The board
“agrees that such a relationship should be explored.”
Recommendation 10. That “more attention …
be focused on training with what we presently have, and finding resolutions to
all the inherent problems that have been outlined in this report.”
Response: Implemented. “This will
continue to be a high priority for the county.”
August 3, 2015
Plumas
County News
By Debra Moore
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