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Sheriff wins commission backing for tele-mental-health pilot, county to explore additional radios and tower options
Summary
Sheriff Kenneth Blackburn received commission approval to pursue a WASCOP tele-mental-health pilot providing tablets and links to local providers; commissioners also asked staff to investigate radio options and authorized researching about 15 radios for Road and Bridge to address coverage gaps and a 16-month billing dispute for Medicine Wheel tower service.
Sheriff Kenneth Blackburn told the commission that jail revenues have increased recently and that the U.S. Marshals Service had expressed interest in increasing detainee placements; he also said he heard ICE may be seeking facilities for detainees. Blackburn asked the commission to allow his office to participate in a WASCOP grant pilot that would supply tablets and a tele-mental-health connection to local behavioral-health providers so deputies can address mental-health crises in the field.
Commissioners approved Blackburn’s request to pursue the pilot and to meet with local mental-health providers to finalize logistics, including Title 25 evaluations if they become necessary. Blackburn said the pilot is intended to reduce unnecessary transports to jail for evaluations.
Giles provided an overview of communications infrastructure at the Medicine Wheel site and described a 16-month billing received from Cowboy Communication for services. Commissioners discussed analog versus WYOLINK/digital radio coverage, associated costs for replacing radios, and possible coverage gaps. By consensus the commission asked Giles to look into acquiring approximately 15 radios for Road and Bridge to improve coverage and interoperability.
The record shows no formal vote tally on the tele-mental-health pilot or the radio research authorization; commissioners gave consensus approval for both items. Next steps include Blackburn meeting with partners, Giles preparing cost options and radio recommendations, and continued review of tower billing and maintenance for the Medicine Wheel site.
