Rice County Observer Report: Rice County Commissioner Meeting, 9.12.23

Rice County Commissioners Meeting 9.12.23

Open forum 8-8:30 – observer was not able to attend the open forum

Commissioner Meeting

• Public Health/Nursing, Deb Purfeerst
  • Board authorized TZD Safe Roads Grant Agreement
• Community Services and Community Corrections, Rick Gieseke
  • Board approved proclamation of September as Recovery Month
• Social Services, Megan Thomas
  • USA Clubhouse Conference: Commissioners approved two clubhouse coordinators to attend conference using external grant funding
    • The Clubhouse here is Friendship House, which is the Rice County adult mental health center
    • Rice County has never sent Clubhouse Coordinators to a conference before
  • Social Central Community Based-Initiative Joint Powers Board Voting Members. Board approved Megan Thomas as primary voting member, and Chris Salmon as secondary voting members, given the group’s focus on children’s services and these staffer’s area of focus.
• Sheriff’s Office, Jesse Thomas
  • Approved renewal of Joint Powers Agreement with BCA and Court Data Service Subscriber Amendment
    • Allows creation of crime reports and enables court systems to communicate with BCA
    Approved renewal of criminal justice system services agreement between the Criminal Justice Network, formerly Dakota County, and Rice County Sheriff’s Office.Inmate Telephone Services Agreement
    • IC Solutions is the selected provider for all technology needs of current and new  jailThere is no charge to the county for this technology because IC Solutions make money off of detainees making phone calls in order to fund theIC solutions will provide a tablet to all inmates, which would allow for calls, video, earning certificates, etc.Two free phone calls per week for indigent inmatesGalen Malecha asked about how inmates are basically robbed by jails so they can make calls. What are the chares?
      • A: The phone calls are cheaper than they used to be or the same. 19 cents/minute, 5 cents/text message. FCC sets the max rates
      Malecha notes that he has a problem with making money off the inmates
      • A: If we give it to them for free, the tax payers have to pay for it
      Purfeerst: Is this unlimited?
      • A: If they have the money, they can make as many calls as they want.
      Purfeerst: And what’s the charge to watch a movie?
      • A: About $5/movie, charged per minute
      Docken: If you don’t live in the jail, it costs you money to have this service, and it’s fairly reasonable charge. No problem with this, and it keeps inmates busy and hence keeps people safer in the jail. They’re not in there for a free ride.Hoisington: They have open access to the internet?
      • A: No, not open access. They can’t just search whatever they want. Jail approves any app on the tablet.
      Malecha: Nothing is free. But also we’re dealing with some of the most financially challenged people in our community. How are they going to pay for it?
      • A: If they come to jail and don’t have education, they can just the tablet to get eduation, and they can earn credits to use for phone calls, canteen, etc.
      Underdahl: Do they have to use a credit card, and will that create debt?
      • A: They can deposit on line or drop off money, or their loved ones can.
      Docken: They can earn phone calls through doing education?
      • A: They education programs are free, but they can earn credits.
      Vote:
      • Malecha: NoDocken, Purfeerst, Underdahl, Hoisington: YesMotion passes
  • RFID System Agreement
    • Live tracks any movement in the jail and tracks things given to inmates while incarcerated, such as on razors.
    • It also tracks wellness checks via bracelets with RFID, which can be scanned.
    • Jail Logs must be kept forever. Currently on paper. In this new system, the report can be run, rather than using paper copies. It supports more accountability for both detainees and staff.
    • Hoinsington: You’re not doing anything different from what you used to do, you’re just moving from paper to electronic?
      • A: Yes
    • Purfeerst: How much does each bracelet cost?
      • A: The amount wasn’t known off hand.
    • Unanimous approval
• Administration with Sara Folsted
  • Consent Agenda approved
  • Authorized creation of a special revenue fund and expenditure of opioid settlement funds
• Closed session for parks and facilities