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Bannock County approves victim-advocacy MOU, clinician pass-through funding and overflow housing contract for juvenile detention; authorizes furniture payment
Summary
The county approved an MOU with Family Service Alliance for victim advocacy in the juvenile detention center, agreed to a Department of Juvenile Corrections pass-through funding arrangement for clinicians, renewed an overflow housing contract with Mini-Cassia, and approved payment for newly delivered youth detention furniture from PILT funds.
Bannock County commissioners authorized three agreements and a budget payment related to the District 6 Juvenile Detention Center on Sept. 23: a memorandum of understanding with Family Service Alliance to provide victim advocates, a pass-through funding agreement from the Department of Juvenile Corrections to pay clinicians, renewal of an overflow housing contract with Minidoka/Mini-Cassia, and the county approved payment this year for furniture delivered for the youth detention facility using PILT funds.
The board heard from Sarah O'Banion, executive director of Family Service Alliance, who described the MOU as a renewal of an older agreement. “This is to ensure mutual support between the parties or purposes for compliance with federal mandates of the Prison Elimination Act in which the District 6 Juvenile Detention Center must provide inmates who are victims of abuse with access to victim advocates for emotional support,” Seth, the juvenile detention representative, said while introducing the item. Sarah confirmed Family Service Alliance provides victim advocacy services to the juvenile facility and to community partners.
The county also approved a new pass-through arrangement with the Department of Juvenile Corrections. Seth explained the state changed its payment process: “in the past, they've always paid our contractor...they want to stop doing that process across the state,” so the Department will now send $58,400 to the county for clinician services and the county will pay the contractor directly. County staff said this will be recorded as a revenue and expense line in the county budget; the county will not act as a fiscal agent beyond passing the funds to the contractor.
Separately, the board renewed an annual overflow housing contract with Mini-Cassia (Minidoka) for juveniles when county capacity is exceeded. Commissioners discussed the per-day rate history: the vendor increased its rate from $150 to $200 per day last year. The county noted rarely using extended stays and a $250/day charge to the state for unusually long placements.
On facility furnishings, county finance staff reported all ordered furniture for the juvenile detention center had arrived and the vendor was warehousing it. The commissioners approved paying $30,118.76 this fiscal year for delivery and placement, using PILT funds rather than waiting until next year. Commissioners asked for on-site delivery and confirmation that the furniture would be placed as required for grant accounting.
Votes and procedure: For each item, the board moved, voted by voice, and approved the authorizations; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript. The MOU will still require signatures from other members of the juvenile detention governing board.
Ending: County staff will finalize signatures and process the state pass-through funds into the 2025 budget; the MOU and contracts will be executed and returned to county administration.
