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Mono County board hears jail construction progress and heated discussion over separating dispatch from jail operations
Summary
Public Works reported foundation work and imminent vertical construction at the new Mono County jail. Sheriff Ron Braun said dispatch duties currently fall to correctional staff and urged separating dispatch into a regional/partner-funded function; supervisors asked for quick interim plans to meet training deadlines.
Public Works Director Paul Roten told the Mono County Board of Supervisors on March 10 that utilities for the new county jail are in place, footings are being excavated and vertical structure work should start within weeks.
"The sitework is underneath the footprint as a jail at this point... they're getting ready to dig the foundation," Roten said, and added that vertical construction was likely within two to four weeks.
Sheriff Ron Braun gave the operational update: the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) staffing mandate means the new jail will require the same baseline staffing as current operations — 17 correctional deputies and three sergeants. Braun described a persistent problem: many correctional deputies also serve as dispatchers, creating a workload and training mismatch as dispatcher duties increase.
"Our correctional deputies should be correctional deputies and dispatchers should be dispatchers," the sheriff said, arguing for a separated dispatch center and regionalized cost-sharing. He proposed interim options such as farming out emergency medical dispatch calls to specialized services while the county develops a permanent solution. Supervisors emphasized the risk posed by upcoming training mandates and the need for an interim plan.
Supervisors also discussed forming a jail ad hoc committee (two members appointed, Supervisor Peters and Supervisor Salcedo) to provide hands-on oversight during facility delivery. The board supported community outreach and a possible public meeting when the project reaches a visibly vertical stage.
No formal staffing changes were adopted at this meeting; the board approved creating the ad hoc committee and will return with follow-up operational items and timelines.
