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Commissioners discuss proposed jail equipment upgrades and creation of a lieutenant position; potential LATCF funding noted
Summary
Board members and staff reviewed sheriff's office requests for lighting and camera upgrades in the jail—estimated about $300,000—and discussed creating a lieutenant position (likely a union post) with ongoing personnel costs; staff to pursue procurement and union negotiation and to explore using LATCF funds for purchases.
County commissioners and staff discussed security and monitoring upgrades at the county jail and the possible addition of a lieutenant position to improve hiring and supervision.
Staff said the sheriff requested two lighting systems and a larger camera upgrade. "There were 2 proof of light systems that were fairly inexpensive. They were about 100,000 for the 2 of them and then a large... a larger camera upgrade that was a little over 200 that would allow them to keep an eye on everybody," a county speaker said, summarizing equipment quotes and describing a roughly $300,000 package.
Why it matters: the equipment upgrades are intended to improve supervision and reduce continuous staff monitoring in the jail. Commissioners raised questions about procurement, whether the sheriff had followed purchasing guidelines, and whether the county should buy the equipment now given limited staffing to operate it. One commissioner suggested negotiating the lieutenant position with the union because a lieutenant would likely be a union position and add recurring costs that could reach the mid‑hundreds of thousands annually; one estimate cited in discussion was roughly $170,000 in ongoing cost impact tied to pay increases.
Board direction: commissioners agreed to follow up. Staff was asked to confirm procurement competition and pricing, consult with the union/coalition on the lieutenant classification and pay scale, and report back on budget and staffing implications. One commissioner suggested purchasing the equipment from the county's LATCF (local tourism accommodation tax / county fund referenced at meeting) if procurement and pricing checks out.
No formal vote was taken on staffing or equipment purchases at the meeting; commissioners signaled conditional support for equipment if procurement rules were followed and financing identified.
