Law Enforcement Committee Meeting Minutes

DATE: September 8, 2005

The regular meeting of the Sauk County Law Enforcement Committee was held on Thursday, September 8, 2005, at 9:30 A.M., in the Community Room, D102A, 1300 Lange Court, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

The meeting was properly posted and all interested parties were notified.

Members Present: Fordham, Sinklair, Montgomery

Members Excused: None

Members Absent: Tollaksen, Carlson

Others Present: R. Stammen; B. Hinze; M. Hafemann; R. Meister; J. Prantner; S. Pate; W. Carns; T McCutchin; A. Kirby; D. Riedel; W. Schneider from Sauk County Humane Society

  1. Call To Order and Certification of Open Meeting Law: The meeting was called to order and compliance with the Open Meeting Law was certified by Chair Charlie Montgomery at 10:10 A.M.
  2. Agenda: Motion by Fordham, seconded by Sinklair.
    Motion carried unanimously.
  3. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting(s): Motion by Sinklair, seconded by Fordham, to approve the minutes of the regular Law Enforcement Committee Meeting held on Thursday, August 11, 2005.
    Motion carried unanimously.
  4. Communications:
    1. Card from Jim Burger from AIDS research stating the bike ride through Sauk County was a success.
    2. Emails reference the great job Communication Center did during the Storm.
    3. Card from Collet Vogel thanking us for our assistance reference a car accident she was in on Highway 78 and County Z.
    4. Letter from Bob Lee stating that our annual jail inspection would be in October.
  5. Appearances:
    1. Presentation of Employee of the Month Award for July 2005.
      On July 14, 2005, at approximately 1:09 a.m., Deputy Riedel took a report of three juveniles who had snuck out of their bedroom window in Hillpoint. The juveniles were listed as runaways. The same morning, at 4:09 a.m., Deputy Riedel was patrolling the STH 23 wayside just south of Reedsburg. He had backed his squad into a driveway that leads to a tower, turned off his vehicle lights, and was sitting in the dark, preparing to do some reports. A vehicle pulled into the wayside. Deputy Riedel observed three juveniles in the vehicle. David confronted the juveniles and was able to identify them as the runaways from Hillpoint. As a result of David's investigation, he was able to determine that the vehicle the juveniles were operating was stolen from Richland County, and the juveniles had also been involved in the theft of yet another vehicle from that same county. David did a nice job, came across the kids and the stolen vehicle. He put things together quickly and solved several cases."
    2. Wendy Schneider from Sauk County Humane Society was present.
      August 2005 statistics
      • -122 adoptions 120 intakes
      • -66 calls 11 bite cases.

      Wendy asked for suggestions on how to find suspect animals from a bite case. Suggestion was made to put information on the animal out to all officers via e-mail.

      It was recommended that the Animal Shelter pursue trying to set up a schedule with a Vet for euthanizing animals if the animals are severely injured.

      Wendy stated that she was going to have a meeting with Chief Strunz from Sauk Prairie PD reference housing animals until animal control can get down there.

  6. Review and approval of August, 2005, bills for Coroner and Sheriff’s Department:

    Coroner Hinze reported there was 1 autopsy listed in her bills.

    Motion by Sinklair, seconded by Fordham, to approve payment of the Coroner’s August, 2005, bills in the amount of $1,990.29.
    Motion carried unanimously.

    Motion by Fordham, seconded by Sinklair, to approve payment of the Sheriff’s August, 2005, bills in the amount of $99,929.57.
    Motion carried unanimously.

  7. Consideration of Resolution:

    Authorizing Attendance of Three Sauk County Employees at the VisionAIR Fall Training Conference at Wilmington, North Carolina, in October, 2005.

    It was stated by Steve Pate that this conference is a great educational tool. The participants are able to make great contacts in order to make our computer system better.

    It was decided to add $500.00 to the amount in the Resolution in order to allow for increase in airline fare due to gas prices.

    Motion by Sinklair, seconded by Fordham.
    Motion carried unanimously.

  8. Update on and discussion of 2006 proposed Sheriff’s Budget:
    1. Dane County
      • -Sheriff Hamblin stated he would not pay a high amount as he could get lower rate with other counties.
      • -Also stated looking for alternatives.
      • -Received e-mail from Sheriff Hamblin that they may be interested in 60 beds for 2006.
    2. Rock County Letter
      • -47 inmates for 2006 on a daily basis
      • -bed rental rate was not negotiated, but not greater than $52 a day
    3. Interest from other agencies:
      • -Iowa County 5 to 10 inmates
      • -Marshals 10 to 20 inmates
      • -Wood County
      • -Monroe County (possibly)

    If A-pod doesn’t open, Sheriff’s Department budget could increase 3.564%.

    G. Wiegand also stated Long Term Contracts for housing was not a great idea.

  9. Sheriff’s Report:
    1. Jail Report

      August Electronic Monitoring.

      • $3,925.00 collected
      • $2,000.00 to 2,200.00 paid for lease of equipment (have not received bill)
      • $5,925.00 to 6,125.00 balance
      • Inmate meals in August numbered 21,265.
        1. Inmate boarding plus medical expenses for August billed to Dane County was $69,802; Iowa County was $1,560.00; Rock County was $31,509; bringing the year-to-date total for housing and medical expenses to $778,653.85 for the months of January through August 2005.
        2. Captain Hafemann advised that the Internal investigation was completed in the Jail. The investigation included 9 staff members.
    2. Communication Center Report
      Nothing at this time.
    3. Triple III Reports
      • August 18, 2005 Deputy Larson had a rear window broken out in his squad car during the tornado.
      • August 17, 2005 Deputy Rupert had a bug get into his ear. Clinic was able to remove the bug.
      • August 2005 Deputy Security Sonja Flower had an ear drum strain while diving.
      • August 9, 2005 Deputy Jailor L. Hanson slipped on some water. She is currently working a modified schedule. Update: Back to work with some limitations.
      • August 23, 2005 Deputy Security Dawn Corning fell down and received a scrape on the leg.
    4. Highway Safety
      • One fatality in the month of August on Highway 12 and Skillet Creek. Year to date total on fatalities is now 9.
      • Sheriff’s Department received 74 requests for extra patrol in the month of August.
      • Sauk County K-9’s assisted Wisconsin DNR with boat patrol on the Wisconsin River. During patrol they made 80 contacts and had 13 drug violations.
    5. Prisoner Transport Program
      Have not received billings for month of August at this time.
    6. Personnel Issues
      • Deputy Sonja Flower will be leaving on September 15, 2005 to take a new position.
      • Deputy Clay Lins was promoted to temporary Patrol Deputy position.
      • Deputy Brad Stoddard was promoted to Patrol Deputy.
      • Personnel has received three applicantion for the Jail Nurse position, so they are extending the deadline to turn in applications.
    7. Department Overtime Report
      August 2005, overtime figures included 685 hours, 200 of which were banked as compensatory time and 485 hours which were paid. There were 67 hours of supervisory overtime for the month of August (20 hours for grants and 47 hours to fill positions).

      Captain Meister is working with the landfill on being able to use the parking lot and building there for Sauk County’s Range program.

  10. Adjournment to date specific: The next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2005, at 9:30 A.M.

    Motion by Sinklair, seconded by Fordham to adjourn the meeting.
    Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted: Joan Fordham, Secretary