The Marshall County Commissioners approved the request of Sheriff Matt Hassel to send three employees to San Antonio, TX in March for technology training. The sheriff said his department is taking on a lot more of the management of technology at the jail and in the sheriff’s department.
While not an agenda item, Sheriff Hassel brought the discussion back of establishing a booking fee for inmates who have been convicted of a crime. The county already has an ordinance on the books but it has never been used due to an Ohio court case which ruled that you couldn’t charge an inmate until less there were convicted. With some minor revisions the ordinance the county could see the booking fee in place by early spring.
Sheriff Hassel said the fee would be assessed to the inmate after they have been through the court process and would be added with the court costs and fines. He also noted that the judge could waive the fee.
The commissioners took no action but appeared to be supportive of fee. Funds collected from the new fee would assist with funding programs in the jail for inmates.
Hassel also presented the commissioners with quotes for four new police vehicles which are in his 2019 budget. Country Auto gave two quotes for the Dodge Durango which is now pursuit rated. The quotes were for a V6 and V8. He also presented quotes from Oliver Ford who also gave a quote for a hybrid with is more costly but would have an $18,000 to $20,000 savings in fuel over a 5 year period.
Hassel said, while he planned to purchase 4 vehicles this year, one of them will replace a squad that was totaled when it hit a deer. He noted with the insurance money and his 2019 budget he would have $133,000 to spend and the government price increased from $27,000 up to $34,000.
The commissioners will review the quotes presented and discuss them at their meeting on January 22nd.
