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9:05 a.m. Held a Board of Equalization meeting. <br /> 9:09 a.m. Adjourned the Board of Equalization meeting and returned to the regular meeting. <br /> PUBLIC PARTICIPATION — Chair Richardson called for public participation and no one <br /> responded. <br /> 5. DISCUSS &APPROVE HIRING ADDITIONAL DEPUTY FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S <br /> OFFICE — Public Defender Jerry Piccolo has met with his committee several times and has <br /> informed the board that there has been a significant increase in cases and he has withdrawn <br /> from about 65 cases so far. They are in need of an additional attorney and it makes sense from <br /> a cost perspective to hire another attorney. His office is different because the County board has <br /> to authorize hiring an additional attorney. This attorney would be on the criminal side. <br /> Arnold made a motion and Quandt seconded to approve hiring an additional attorney for <br /> criminal cases and authorize the additional personnel spot. Arnold, Bredthauer, Lancaster, <br /> Lanfear, Quandt, Richardson and Schuppan all voted yes and none voted no. Motion carried. <br /> Mr. Piccolo stated that according to national standards an attorney will do about 150 cases a <br /> year. They have estimated that there has been about 800 or 900 felony cases a year and as of <br /> yesterday they were at 440 felonies already this year. To hire an attorney and putting that <br /> position on the step scales that is used for the deputy county attorneys and public defenders it <br /> would be about $88,000 plus benefits and that would be about $125,000. They have already <br /> spent more than that and it is important to explain it to the public. Mr. Piccolo would not request <br /> an additional deputy if it was not necessary. He also has a full case load. The additional deputy <br /> has to be justified and the numbers do so. <br /> Arnold noted that there is a line item in the Justice System budget for attorneys so they will <br /> reduce that amount and add it to the public defender's budget, It will be a dollar for dollar shift <br /> but they hope to have some cost savings. People have the right for representation and there is <br /> a good relationship between the county attorney and the public defender and this provides <br /> efficiency. Mr. Piccolo stated <br /> They have tracked these expense for 1 '% years. <br /> Richardson stated that the committee has met several times and this is justified by the numbers. <br /> They hope to see some net savings. <br /> The vote on the motion to authorize an additional public defender was taken. Arnold, <br /> Bredthauer, Lancaster, Lanfear, Quandt, Richardson and Schuppan all voted yes and none <br /> voted no. Motion carried. <br /> 6. DISCUSS &APPROVE HIRING PERSONNEL FOR THE HALL COUNTY OFFICE OF <br /> JUVENILE DEFENSE — Mr. Piccolo noted that the resolution was approved to establish the <br /> Office of Juvenile Defense so the next step is to approve the personnel spot. He will hire one <br /> deputy to work on the juvenile cases. There is enough work for one attorney now and he will <br /> report the experience at the end of the year. He would like to try it for 6 months. <br /> Arnold made a motion and Quandt seconded to hire one attorney for the Office of Juvenile <br /> Defense. <br /> 3 <br />