03-11-2003Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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F03141 DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON PROPOSED LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH HALL COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR PLACEMENT OF ANTENNA - County Attorney Jerry Janulewicz stated that the county needs to place to antenna on the top of Centennial Towers to be used for the law enforcement mobile data system. This agreement will allow the county to place the towers on the building. No consideration will be paid. The County will maintain the insurance and pay the utility bills incurred. This is a one-year agreement and can be terminated with a 90-day notice. Hartman made a motion and Arnold seconded to authorize the chair to sign the agreement. Arnold, Eriksen, Hartman, Humiston, Jeffries and Lancaster all voted yes and none voted no, with Rye absent. Motion carried. 7 EXECUTIVE SESSION PERSONNEL - Jeffries made a motion and Humiston seconded to go into executive session. Arnold, Eriksen, Hartman, Humiston, Jeffries and Lancaster all voted yes and none voted no, with Rye absent. Motion carried. 9:10 executive session 9:38 a.m. recessed executive session they will continue later BRIAN DAWE WITH CORRECTIONS USA PRESENTATION REGARDING JAIL PRIVATIZATION ISSUES - Brian Dawe, executive director of Corrections USA, 63 East, Thayne, Wyoming, was asked to come to Hall County to address the issues of a private jail. In 1982 he organized a non-profit organization to address corrections issues across the nation. They represent 90,000 correction officers in 40 states. Corrections USA is about the safety of the officers. Private jails have hidden costs. The hidden costs come from dealing with the higher number of escapes and assaults. The guards do not have the authority to apprehend inmates so that falls on law enforcement people. Mr. Dawe quoted statistics from the Bureau of Prisons and the US Marshall Service and other information that shows that private jails cost more. There are hidden costs that drive the cost of private prison up. There are effects on public safety because of the higher number of escapes. He also stated that because they are private they do not have to report the information regarding the assaults and escapes from private facilities. Since 1998 his organization has tried to watch the industry and publish this information Staff training and experience maintain the safety in a jail. Statistically in private facilities pay, training and experience are lower so there is higher turn over. Assaults on guards are 67% higher and assaults on inmates are 49% higher. Only government can incarcerate but the community pays for the lawsuits and the guards can be sued individually if they work in a private facility. Mr. Dawe stated you cannot but a dollar value on safety. Arnold said he appreciated the information but there are other studies that support private facilities and he questioned the issue of disclosure on the assaults and escapes. Lancaster stated that Hall County is trying to get all of the information that they can. 3