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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1024 (2)Elections Director Becky Galliher said the Diebold equipment was also less expensive than ES&S. When asked if the elections staff would be ready for the May primary, Galliher said it was difficult to say. Carpenter said there were not that many differences in the Diebold and ES&S machines, but he had concerns about getting the equipment installed and the staff trained by the May primary. REQUEST FROM THE IREDELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW POSITIONS TO BE USED IN THE TRANSPORTING OF INMATES AND THE TRANSPORT OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS: Chief Deputy Rick Dowdle said the mental health commitment process was time consuming and an officer could easily spend eight to ten hours on one transport. He said the commitment transport officers were finding themselves in remote parts of the state, at all hours of the day and night, and the department's overtime budget was being exhausted. Dowdle said prior to mental health reform, there was a two-step process, but now the officer had to go to the hospital, then to the Crises Center, and then wait for a placement at another facility. Along with the mental health situation, Dowdle said his department was experiencing more prisoner transports (to and from other detention centers across the state and from the main jail to the annex and vice versa). Dowdle provided statistics showing that in November, the officers were involved in 45 mental health commitment proceedings and 116 inn ate transports for a total of 8,126 miles and 265 officer hours. He requested approval to add two new transport officer positions, and he said the sheriff's department had adequate funds to cover the costs in this year's budget. Dowdle said each shift would have a designated transport officer, and if any downtime occurred, assistance would be given to the jail and road staff. ADJOURNMENT OF BRIEFING SESSION: After the department heads reviewed other items placed on the consent agenda, Chairman Tice adjourned the briefing at 5:45 p.m. Approval D D " ' Clerk to th Board