Posted: 1/11/05
Sheriff requests officer for courtroom
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Houston County Sheriff Mike Lee would like to see a licensed peace officer in the county courtroom when court is in session.
He asked commissioners to approve the idea at their January 4 meeting. Commissioners responded that they want to study the idea and bring it up again at their January 11 meeting.
Both Lee and chief deputy Ken Frank spoke about the benefits of having an armed officer provide courtroom security.
ìIím just afraid one of these days something is going to happen and we ainít going to have that person there,î Lee said. The county hasnít hired a new position in the sheriffís department since 1987, Lee added.
The sheriff wrote in a letter to the board that he is sending deputies into the courtroom more frequently than before to help out bailiffs. ìThis is happening because we are having more incidents that are considered volatile,î he wrote.
The person working in the new position would work directly with the court administratorís office for scheduling courtroom duty. On off days, the person could do things like transport prisoners and serve civil papers, Lee said.
Lee also asked the board to approve the hiring of a new deputy to replace one who had recently resigned, referring to Randy Shefelbine, who stepped down to take the job of Caledonia Police Chief January 1. He wanted quick action on this because it can take up to three months to do interviews and background checks before a new deputy can go to work.
Lee said the county is understaffed with deputies now. ìI donít want one person out there covering our whole county,î he said.
Thereís a better chance of an officer getting hurt if they are working alone, and multiple officers serve the county better, Lee added.
Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher said he preferred to wait a week before taking action on either request, saying he hadnít even read Leeís letter of request to the board.
Fourth district commissioner Dave Corcoran said the board would make a decision on January 11.
Union contract approved
Also at last weekís meeting, commissioners approved a new three-year settlement with Houston County AFSCME union members.
Under the new pact, wages will rise three percent in 2005 and 2006, then two percent in the first nine months of 2007 and three percent in the final three months of 2007.
Here are some of the other changes.
ï Incentive pay went up by $10 per month for employees with more than five years of experience.
ï Public health nursing department employees will now receive the same four Friday or Monday holidays that the other union employees receive. They also get 1-1/2 time holiday pay.
ï On-call social work compensation went from $10 per day to $25 per day.
ï The countyís contribution to health and life insurance was increased by $30 per month.
Commissioner Kevin Kelleher, who served on the negotiation committee, said the committee looked at everything in trying to stay competitive in the various fields.
ìIt was a very mutual, respectful process,î personnel director Tim Comstock added.
AFSCME Union Local 2166 covers everybody in the courthouse except department heads, supervisors, and nurses.
Wildcat Park contract OKed
The board also approved by consensus a new contract for management of Wildcat Park in Brownsville. Rates will remain the same as 2004. The seasonal rate is $200 per month, and the monthly rate is $290 per month. Daily site fees vary from $15 to $20. Shelter rental is $35 per day.
The contractor manages the park, provides 24 hour supervision, pays electrical utilities, and does grounds maintenance, cleaning, and minor maintenance on county-owned lawn care equipment. The contractorís payment is 67 percent of the fees collected.
The park was managed last year by Jerry Hensley, of Genoa, Wisconsin, and a contract has been extended to him again for this year.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com