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9. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION HALL COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND LAW <br /> ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES — Quandt that there ae some problems with the courts <br /> the Courthouse is full. Gary said he met with Doone, Sheriff Conrad and an architect <br /> regarding security at the Courthouse and the Federal building. He said the steps at the <br /> Federal building that were just done will have to be changed to meet ADA requirements. <br /> There has been talk about an addition to the Courthouse or using the Annex for <br /> courtrooms or building a new facility by the corrections department. There are different <br /> options but the whole board needs to make some decisions. The Federal Building <br /> needs to have an ADA entrance and one entrance to make it work. The county attorney <br /> and public defender have more cases. There has been talk about a juvenile court and <br /> another district court judge. Right ow the sheriff is covering security for all of these <br /> buildings. He is in fiscal handcuffs and has difficulty hiring deputies. The jail is down 15 <br /> and the City PD staff is down also. There will be a casino next year and they will be <br /> hiring for security. <br /> Sheriff Conrad thanked the board lowering the flags for the officer that passed. <br /> Sheriff Conrad stated that he is very concerned about the city contact, he is concerned <br /> for his department. He knows people will apply outside of his department. He said he <br /> and his chief deputy try to plan things to keep the staff happy but when you start looking <br /> at salaries that are $16,000 or $17,000 a year more, these officers are making more <br /> than his sergeants. His staff are loyal employees. He appreciates it when people thank <br /> him for catching the bad guys that is his job he does not want to be down 15 deputies. <br /> He is losing employees with 15 or 20 years' experience. County prosecutors cringe <br /> when they start losing staff with experience. He recently had a security person retire <br /> and one went to the jail. They are currently in a hiring cycle and he had 2 applications <br /> and PD had 20 applications with 6 certified. It take time to train people and it takes a <br /> year to get them in a car. <br /> Lancaster thanked him for bringing this forward. She said they have a State Patrol <br /> representative on the NPERS board and he has said there is little difference between <br /> law enforcement personnel. Sheriff Conrad said they spend a lot of time in GI and they <br /> will always help out. He they have agreed to not recruit in the same building. When <br /> people see this contract they will go. <br /> Sheriff Conrad stated it is a brotherhood and they all work together he said it has always <br /> been that way it is more than just wages. He expressed concern that this new contract <br /> it is very impressive. Ron stated this may need to be covered in executive session. <br /> Lancaster noted they did support them with ARPA funds it was a good retention issue. <br /> Richardson said it seems everyone was pleased at the time it was recently negotiated. I <br /> was also noted Todd has some of the same issues when the state corrections made <br /> 8 <br />