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Public safety updates: jail counts, radio network deliberations and CJCC MOU concerns
Summary
Committee members heard updates on jail population and Narcan use, heard that a credit analysis prevents moving forward with the BugTussel/Hilbert radio option, and were told a CJCC MOU with LCO has expired — potentially requiring an additional $50,000 from the county.
At its Sept. 5 meeting the Sawyer County Public Safety Committee reviewed a set of operational updates affecting county emergency and justice services, including jail population figures, emergency response trends, a radio-network procurement review and a lapsed intergovernmental agreement that could create a $50,000 funding obligation.
Lt. Mike Woller reported jail statistics for August, saying the jail population was 61.25 with an average of eight sentenced inmates. Lt. Greg Ripczinski described recent patrol volumes as up but roughly equal to this time last year; the department said it hopes to fill current staff vacancies.
John Froemel reviewed Emergency Services and Public Safety reports and told the committee that total emergency-run volume has increased, Narcan use is up, and the county recently recorded one fentanyl death and a critical incident. Froemel also reported drug costs have increased by about 10% and some medications are in short supply. On an operational request to establish a Round Lake EMS station, staff advised the committee that they do not recommend setting up a new station at this time.
Administrator Andy Albarado updated the committee on the county radio network project and said a complete credit analysis was not available for the BugTussel/Hilbert option; for that reason he does not recommend proceeding with BugTussel. Albarado said the alternative—building county-owned towers and leasing tower space—would be more expensive but would preserve the project timeline; the item will be reviewed again at the County Board meeting that evening.
Albarado also reported that the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LCO has expired and the county has not received a renewal from LCO. He said he has reached out to the TGB requesting a discussion but received no response; without a renewed agreement the county would need to provide an additional $50,000 for criminal justice programming.
Other items reviewed included a written report from the Clerk of Court noting a trial jury scheduled for the following day, and communication-center highlights such as National Night Out serving about 350 people and a Clean Sweep event scheduled for Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Fair Grounds. Code enforcement and animal control discussion included a nuisance-cat complaint presented by Ben Kurtzweil and a citation issued to the pet owner; the county said its animal-control officer will have discretion in handling future incidents.
The committee set a future agenda item to revisit the MOU with LCO and adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
