Posted: 5/31/05
County hears about courtroom security from private company
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Courtroom security was on the front burner of the Houston County board meeting again on May 24.
The issue has been discussed at several recent meetings. Both Sheriff Mike Lee and Judge James Fabian have asked the board to consider providing some type of security in the courtroom, which is on the second floor of the courthouse.
Last week the head of a private security company, Premier Security Incorporated of Winona, described his company to commissioners
President/CEO Dan Walker, who was accompanied by two employees, said his company is licensed by the state of Minnesota to provide courtroom security, and that it is legal to do so. He was apparently addressing a concern expressed by Houston County Chief Deputy Ken Frank at an earlier meeting.
ìNot (just) anybody can do this kind of work in Minnesota,î Walker said.
Premier has been doing courthouse security in Winona County for four years, Walker said. ìWinona County has seen that privatization has worked for them,î he said.
His company takes a team approach, and communicates frequently with the Winona County Sheriffís office, Walker added. ìWe donít want to step on the sheriffí departmentís toes.î
He encouraged commissioners to call Sheriff David Brand. ìWeíre seen as a team player,î he said.
Because Premier is not dealing with union issues, it can make changes easily, Walker said.
He also stressed the accountability of his company. ìYouíre looking at the owner,î he said. ìThe buck stops here. We donít have voice mail.î
Premier employees are paid $9 to $11 per hour, he said. It employees 100 people and has a payroll of $1.2 million, Walker said.
First district commissioner Larry Graf wondered if a primary person would be assigned to Houston County. Walker answered that there would be no more than two primary workers in Houston County.
Fifth district commissioner Tom Bjerke asked if there was any animosity with the Winona County Sheriffís Department. No, Walker answered, even though he said he was prepared for that. Premier even helps the sheriffís department with what he called ìpiddley issuesî like walking prisoners to the jail and serving warrants.
Fourth district commissioner Dave Corcoran said he had talked to Winona County officials and they love having Premier there. He also thought that having someone do courtroom security who wasnít involved in the arrest process could be a benefit.
The board did not make a decision.
Jail programmer hired
In other county board news, commissioners voted 4-0 to hire David Prachar of Duluth to be its jail programmer. A six-month contract with Prachar will now be worked out.
Prachar and two architectural firms were interviewed for the job on May 17.
Commissioners spent some time discussing what exactly Prachar would be doing. Site selection will come at a later time, Dave Corcoran felt. The first thing to determine is the size and scope of the jail, he said.
Corcoran also liked the fact that Prachar was a former jail administrator, and that he had done planning work on other jails.
Larry Graf liked that Prachar was an independent company and not tied to an architectural firm.
Sheriff Mike Lee agreed. ìHeíll be working for the county, not an architect,î Lee said. ìYouíre his boss.î
Two different sections of ninth grade civics students from Caledonia attended the meeting with their teacher Carol Sweeney-Marnach. Jail administrator Mark Schiltz explained why a new jail is needed to the students. He mentioned things like its small capacity, and that it canít house juveniles or females. The county has to rent beds for those inmates, Schiltz said, which can cost $70-$75 per day.
Ann Thompson said that the jail, which was built in 1875, is the oldest jail in Minnesota.
ìAinít gonna happenî
Sheriff Lee and chief deputy Ken Frank visited with the board about a letter they had received from Spring Grove Police Chief Paul Folz.
Lee said that Folz had taped the letter and a schedule of when Spring Grove officers will be on duty to the door of the courthouse.
The letter told of changes in the Spring Grove Police Department work schedule, and that officers there could not provide 24 hour coverage. ìSo we are asking that your department supplement the coverage when there is not a Spring Grove Police Officer on duty,î Folz wrote.
ìAinít gonna happen,î Lee told commissioners in a somewhat angry voice.
Lee said his department would respond to life and death situations and felony crimes in Spring Grove, but that he did not have the manpower for more than that.
He also seemed disgusted with the way in which the request was made. ìNo one had contacted me prior to this letter being taped to my door,î he said.
The sheriff said he didnít mind covering for things like vacations. ìBut donít schedule my guys every day of the week for months and months,î he added.
Frank noted that the City of Houston police chief will call if he needs extra coverage. ìHe donít tape a note to the door,î Frank said.
ìTheyíre just going to have to figure it out for themselves,î Lee said.
Other business
ï The board also passed a resolution for a variance for a bridge on Pfeffer Valley Road in La Crescent Township. Some local landowners are opposed to the right of way, county engineer Allen Henke told the board, and want it designed for less than a 30 mile an hour speed. The variance meeting will be held on June 30.
ï The board appointed Clair Welch to its Water Planning Board.
ï The board approved the purchase of a one-ton GMC cab and chassis for the highway department for $25,732.
ï In personnel items, the board approved the hiring of Chris Fitzpatrick as a sheriffís office transport driver. Court services worker Nicole Hintz was moved from probationary to regular status.
ï Second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher was absent from the meeting.
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