Posted: 6/12/07
Automated phone system being utilized by Sheriffís Department
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Persons calling the Houston County Sheriffíís Office for non-emergency issues are now utilizing a voice automation system, which became operational at the beginning of the month. Sheriff Doug Ely informed the Houston County Board June 5 the new system was in place.
"The system is designed to free up our dispatchers for emergency calls," Ely told the commissioners. "Before we had this system, our dispatchers had to field all of the calls, both emergency and non-emergency. This wasnít a good situation, especially if our dispatchers were tied up with non-emergency calls and someone was calling with an emergency.
"People with emergencies should call 911," Ely continued. "Thatís the best way to get in contact with the proper people. For non-emergency calls, we want people to call 725-3379 and their calls will be directed from there."
The automated system will be used Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Dispatchers will field calls the rest of the time.
Persons making non-emergency calls will hear a recording telling them if they have an emergency, they should dial 0 or 911. It then directs them through a menu of numbers for the various departments within the Sheriffís Office. They include:
1- jail administrator
2- on duty jailer
3- permits to carry a gun, administrative assistant
4- questions about civil processing/paper service
5- records
6- dispatcher to obtain a burn permit or house watch
7- chief deputy
8- sheriff Ely
9 - To leave a message with any of the deputies (a list of the deputies will be provided).
"If you happen to dial 725-3379 and have an emergency, just push 0," Ely added. "But it is best to dial 911, itís faster and you wonít have to go through the voice automation system."
County to participate
in DNR grant program
Sheriff Ely told the commissioners Houston County was the only county in the area not participating in a DNR grant program to help provide water patrol protection.
"Thereís up to $5,000 available and can only be used for routine patrols, not search and rescue missions," Ely noted.
Elyís office did receive a grant of $6,250 from the DNR to help cover boat maintenance. So far, approximately $3,000 has been spent for boat repairs and maintenance.
"The moneyís there. We just have to apply for it," Ely told the commissioners.
A motion was unanimously approved to apply for the DNR grant.
Less jail space
County Jail Administrator Mark Schiltz reported the Minnesota Department of Corrections didnít find any deficiencies last week during their annual inspection.
"What they basically said was for a jail of our age, we are maintaining it as best we can," Schiltz said.
"That doesnít mean we donít need to replace the jail," Commissioner Dave Corcoran cautioned. "I can see people reading about this and figuring we donít need a new jail. I appreciate the staff doing a good job maintaining what we have, but we all know it has to be replaced."
Schiltz then told the commissioners the Wabasha County Jail will be shut down by the state on November 1. The prisoners incarcerated in the Wabasha County Jail will have to be moved to other jails in the area, putting a bigger crunch on the jail space problem.
According to Ely, the Wabasha County Jail is a 14-bed facility. He figures most of the persons jailed there will be transferred to Goodhue County, which has a 170-bed jail.
"Itís just going to make the jail cell shortage problem that much worse," Ely said. "We have been checking with Goodhue County on a regular basis looking for open beds. Itís just going to make it tougher to find open jail space."
Caledonia Argus
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507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com