LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Tuesday adopted a resolution authorizing the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) to reinstate six correctional officer positions at the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Undersheriff Pat Turturici said the positions were needed because of the state”s prison realignment. Turturici said 52 inmates are serving time at the jail and alleged they “were growing more dangerous and bringing in contraband.”
Turturici said some inmates were shifted to a home detention program, but there is a need for officers to check on them. He said the positions would be filled as soon as possible, pending background checks.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox said it would be impossible to fund these positions from the county general fund, adding he supported the resolution contingent on the use of realignment funds.
BOS Chair Rob Brown said the request was reasonable.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said funding for the positions should be tied solely to realignment funds.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock moved to adopt the resolution with the amendment the resolution would be rescinded if realignment funds were lacking. The BOS unanimously adopted the resolution.
In a related matter, the BOS approved two contracts for companies that perform pre-employment background checks for the LCSO.
LCSO Capt. Chris Macedo said LCSO was at the end of its contract funding with MGI-Madeira Group International and requested the BOS approve a new contract with Michael T. Hardin Investigations to perform background checks for the six reinstated positions.
Macedo said $5,000 remained in the MGI contract, and that each background check costs approximately $1,200 to $1,500.
Macedo requested approving the contract with Michael T. Harding Investigations in the amount of $15,000 and amending the contract with MGI, increasing the amount from $15,000 to $20,000. The BOS unanimously approved the contract with Michael T. Hardin Investigations as well as the amended contract with MGI.
In other matters, the BOS approved appointing seven people and two supervisors to the Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Advisory Board that will be tasked to draft marijuana growth laws.
Brown said 14 people applied for five categories: medical marijuana grower, medical marijuana patient, physician, agricultural representative (non-medical marijuana grower) and member at-large.
Brown recommended appointing John Brosnan and Don Merrill for medical marijuana grower; Fred Langston for medical marijuana patient; Robert Rosenthal, M.D. for physician; Bobby Dutcher and David Rosenthal for agricultural representative; Bill Kearney for member at-large; and supervisors Farrington and Denise Rushing.
The supervisors unanimously approved appointing the applicants to the committee.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
