CLEARLAKE — Authorization was given Thursday, March 27, by the Clearlake City Council to proceed with a proposal to use inmates and other eligible participants in a work program to supplement city staff. The program, which was included in recommendations brought forth by the Vision Task Force, will utilize people who are not considered to be a threat to the public.
The program will include the use of inmates from the county jail, people required to provide community service and people in the Alternative Work Program. Participants will be assigned to specific tasks, which they will carry out under the supervision of city staff.
Program participants will work with the Public Works Department and park maintenance staff to supplement services. City staff members who supervise the inmates will be required to attend an annual training seminar. The city will provide safety equipment and supervision while the county will be responsible for providing Workers” Compensation Insurance and lunch for the inmates.
Some of the specific tasks participants will be assigned to include park maintenance, litter removal, weed abatement and cutting weeds on public property and other similar tasks.
Inmates in county jail must be picked up daily and must be transported in a company vehicle. City Administrator Dale Neiman informed the council that there is a city employee currently living in Kelseyville. He suggested that the employee use the city”s crew cab pickup to transport five inmates daily until the city can purchase a van for the program. Once a van is purchased, he suggested an increase of the number of inmates from five to eight.
The council authorized city staff to continue developing the program on a 4-0 vote with councilmember Roy Simon absent from the meeting.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
