Steering committee forms funding work group; moves booking-restrictions briefing to main task force

At its June 10 meeting, the Wakom County IPRTF Steering Committee discussed a second draft charter creating a 50/50 funding work group charged with analyzing whether and how a 50% county funding floor could be achieved for implementation-plan projects and identifying potential funding sources, including grants and the possible sale of the Leounty Road property.

Heather described the work group's charge: to develop recommendations for funding the implementation plan projects, provide a breakdown of expenditures, and consider whether behavioral-health spending within the jail's design should count toward the 50% target. The committee listed potential invited subject-matter experts, including corrections officers, victim representatives and county finance staff.

Members raised concerns about a charter line that asked the work group to 'define' booking restrictions. Peter and others said booking restrictions operate as a process rather than a single contract definition. Peter noted from experience that the sheriff provides operational instructions and that, “it's definitely not a definition, it's a process,” and the sheriff offered to present the department’s approach and how restrictions changed in 2025 to the full IPRTF to help level-set the community and council.

The steering committee agreed to remove the charter item asking the work group to define booking restrictions and instead place a full explanatory presentation about booking restrictions on the IPRTF agenda. The sheriff's documentation and internal procedures will be included among the materials available to work groups as needed.

Next steps: The 50/50 work group will be asked to refine membership and staffing, prepare a progress report (due Sept. 30) and a final report (due Nov. 30), and coordinate with the IPRTF on any recommendations that will go to county council.