[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6571932,"mediaKeyId","3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929","parentId",3078964,"title","Cass County officials discuss court holding limits, transport needs and timing for new jail opening","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2923000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929&start=2923&end=2923","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929/thumbnail_2923000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571932/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Cass-County-officials-discuss-court-holding-limits-transport-needs-and-timing-for-new-jail-opening","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571932-011d2d45482cbdcddc348f99b8f8faf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135751&Signature=GJP9L4lUaboTXhnE5tJa8iRdzbru1r-2feN1047fFWbTLuG3UqYdHtSQCpOULSFGPkZChJU6zL~6xEZU~u6sAhgHNOIH-DQnBynMN4Xb5tacVkZkaoTpsPzp12HQmXNOvhG1tfav9hKxDOY0m9JOq86jNELHtGTcDM8Lp~qfTL7svK1riYhMh1T9sGgdDM5Qe7dEXOTsZLHtE3m1nh7LGvBTWscMlQR7RWqGZb~4B2PHFI4tmzpp7KO2IKUt20H-bNb4~UXs06oWdnfJxHSXL9txN4E~4ZY963Ad7m0moP9h6lVrpUc99rNUyxJrFb1ZZtxdTTaVkX6UhKqg9PeTWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cass County, KS","date","2025-04-21T20:32:52.25Z","article","Sheriff Jonner and courthouse staff told the Cass County Board of Commissioners that current courthouse holding capacity and transport logistics will need review as the county expands courtroom space and moves toward occupancy of a larger jail facility.

Captain Fuller, who oversees court transport, told commissioners the courthouse holding area has eight cells with a total capacity of 27 people; five of those cells are typically used as single-occupant cells for inmates requiring separation. Fuller said the courthouse operates three criminal courtrooms and that adding a new courtroom will increase the number of in-custody appearances and the demand on holding space.

Sheriff Jonner and other staff discussed transport logistics and equipment needs. Jonner said one transport van has had repeated mechanical issues—falling back to a top speed of about 40 mph and needing repeated repairs—and the sheriff’s office expects that expanding courthouse operations could require at least one additional transport vehicle.

On the new jail facility, contractors and county construction managers gave an anticipated substantial completion date in mid‑May; the contractors cited May 12 as their target for finishing construction and beginning punch‑list work, while county staff said that if that schedule holds the jail could be ready to accept inmates in early June under the current operational plan. Jonner said the sheriff’s office would need two to three weeks after turnover for staff orientation, policy work and other preparations.

Commissioners urged the project team to set a clear opening date and work backward to coordinate training, equipment deliveries and any public open houses. One commissioner suggested setting a later public opening date (for example, June 15) to provide buffer for any remaining construction or deliveries; county staff said mattress orders, linens and other supplies are already placed and some items have been delivered.

Commissioners and staff noted that a certificate of occupancy and final punch list remain prerequisites to moving people into the new facility. The project's substantial completion date for the new courtroom associated with courthouse expansion appeared in the meeting record as Oct. 29.

No formal action was taken; commissioners asked staff to continue coordination among the sheriff’s office, the courts and the project team and to return with concrete timelines and a public plan once construction punch‑list work is complete.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sheriff's Department Rotational Meeting 4/21","oneSentenceSummary","Sheriff Jonner and court staff told commissioners the courthouse holding area has eight cells with a 27-person capacity, the county is reviewing transport van reliability, and contractors are targeting a May completion on the new jail with planning to accept inmates in early June if the schedule holds.","taxTitle","Cass County, North Dakota","taxId",2734,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6571935,"Cass County restarts in-house reserve deputy academy after state changed training rules",132,2639000,2771000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929&start=2639&end=2771","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929/thumbnail_2639000.jpg","/articles/6571935/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Cass-County-restarts-in-house-reserve-deputy-academy-after-state-changed-training-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571935-781430a4016d46c75cf44945347fb66d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135751&Signature=OHM31qYb3vzPVaK8r6foZ0UkwGM4Fa0Tk~8vxvK7A0RiXoUkyAnUf79VuQ9qjOw8D8TeOpupORpX2imR3ewvzJPOKHmySPIPYMPAuDDM1C0HVTx2h6VQ1CwHKyasCs9I99eaTOX~JjVH0jYIa4jTDJhhgsP5lERGKYVshaLEYJN83ZaUOPl26lpai3EEiBlwmQXquuhen9nMegl-xYf6vrv7Uo670HYAwCFTuYJiDoXNorqHXu5TAWcT18SzpAOrcWGz4Eo1bnrKuhpT~4pjVpSa2SQQOB5qyumP7mdZ4au7OWX6i6to6WVJukTtFNBXjZ5IIndnzaqdEAZImBDHtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Jonner updated the Cass County Board of Commissioners on the sheriff’s office reserve deputy program and recent changes in state licensure that require reserves to complete a 74‑hour Reserve Peace Officer Basic course and hold a reserve license under the state POST board.

Jonner said the sheriff’s office secured Post Board approval to teach the reserve basic in-house and enrolled its first class under the new requirement. Four reserve deputies completed the course, Jonner said; the office is certified to teach the curriculum and hopes to expand the program to replenish volunteer reserves after the state changed training requirements.

The sheriff noted the county is allowed to equip up to 15 reserve deputies under current policy. Jonner said reserves perform many event and patrol support duties and described the program as a cost-saving resource: he told commissioners the office estimated reserves donated time in 2024 that equated to roughly $68,113 saved in salary costs. Jonner said earlier years had higher donated-hour totals; the transcript record contains multiple year figures provided by the sheriff’s office.

Under the state law change, reserves must now operate under the direct supervision of a licensed peace officer during operations, Jonner said. That limits unsupervised solo duty by reserves but still allows pairing reserves with full‑time deputies at community events so local volunteer funds raised by small towns are not consumed by staffing costs.

No formal action was taken; commissioners thanked the sheriff’s office for establishing the certified course and asked staff to continue reporting on reserve staffing and training needs.

","Sheriff Jonner told commissioners the office completed an in-house 74‑hour Reserve Peace Officer Basic training required by the state, certifying a reserve program that saved county staffing costs.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6571939,"Cass County officials discuss options as rural districts warn they may cut school resource officers",1070,369000,1439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929&start=369&end=1439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3078964-72af3cbea313d5e9bda813fdc12f8929/thumbnail_369000.jpg","/articles/6571939/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Cass-County-officials-discuss-options-as-rural-districts-warn-they-may-cut-school-resource-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571939-9a55452b9d083380cecc5d6670efffd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773135751&Signature=Pw4zgpvXXb3IUGVfkQ8fVvw75PayuGcGiT0WMpOpsUM8WOFjbACwZ6IWYA2MIqHujsWSMopPpuS4~6B9b6kfOi1VQw9m1NTcqmOBoqT0fmPTubR0B1fyzcQqxuVHlWrewUFX2t0gwllPP8f40IMjZXIRhspZCS2SGPNz3Zho5rpvmSo-oTu~vqJ4a9aqvdzgVUcOoisplJl5rw8dgkPl2pjPHtQIotuRLflnRqQkMrNwh~UBnpOn9D2Dz54JQAewg19C1TN7eqkITBgJygj13jiXIPj-vfgB2efgmPBOesTR7tEXDcByoGzycZ6KKAr1Y~~ZDRjz14r6EoBGYNXmrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Jonner told the Cass County Board of Commissioners that two rural school districts have signaled they may be unable to continue paying for full-time school resource deputies, and the sheriff’s office asked the board to consider options as the districts finalize budgets.

School officials for Central Cass and Maple Valley told the sheriff’s office they face rising construction and operating costs and may move from full-time to half-time coverage or otherwise reduce their contracts, Jonner said. Under current contracts he described, districts pay about 75% of the officer’s total salary and equipment cost and the county funds the remaining roughly 25%.

That allocation has allowed Cass County to place deputies at smaller, rural schools and to stage deputies around the county to shorten response times, Jonner said. “I think the most valuable part of it is really the connections,” Jonner said, describing the relationship-building between deputies and students as the program’s primary benefit.

Commissioners and staff said the year-over-year increases in the county cost for an SRO have been higher than typical school salary increases and that may be driving districts’ concerns. Jonner said the county’s annual increase for those positions has averaged about 6%; he said school salary increases have generally been in the 2%–3% range. The sheriff and staff told commissioners the annual per-officer cost for a full‑time SRO would rise from about $73,000 to roughly $80,000 in the coming contract cycle, an increase commissioners said some districts have questioned.

Commissioner Bridal and others said they value the program’s benefit to rural schools and expressed concern about the public reaction if coverage is reduced. Commissioners discussed short-term options including sharing a half-time officer between two small schools and evaluating whether the county could absorb a larger share of the cost during upcoming budget deliberations.

Jonner said Mapleton already has a half‑time SRO who splits remaining hours on county traffic duties; Maple Valley has been relying on fill‑in coverage while one deputy is on medical leave. Jonner also noted the strategic placement of deputies in Kindred, Maple Valley, northern Cass and Central Cass (Mapleton), adding that five deputies are staged around the county under the current contracts.

No formal decision was taken. Commissioners asked sheriff’s office staff to compile options and a recommendation for the board’s June 2 meeting, including scenarios for keeping coverage full-time, moving to shared half-time positions, or increasing the county contribution during the budget process.

Questions commissioners raised that remain unresolved in the meeting record included whether insurance or liability costs would change if a district removed an SRO and whether legislative proposals such as a proposed 3% budget cap would alter the county’s ability to shift funds to SRO contracts.

The sheriff’s office emphasized the program’s stated safety and prevention roles and the importance of school‑community relationships in recommending any long-term change.

","Sheriff Jonner told commissioners that Central Cass and Maple Valley schools may reduce or cut school resource deputies because of rising costs; commissioners asked staff to prepare budget options ahead of the next meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cass County officials discuss court holding limits, transport needs and timing for new jail opening

Cass County restarts in-house reserve deputy academy after state changed training rules

Cass County officials discuss options as rural districts warn they may cut school resource officers