MONROE — The Green County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee at its Feb. 11 meeting approved renewal of federal funding for overtime police work on meth investigations.
The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Anti-Methamphetamine Program will provide the county with $15,000 for the two-year period of 2020-21 and is identical to the 2018-19 grant, Sheriff Jeff Skatrud told the committee. The money goes toward overtime worked by deputies investigating meth cases.
“It’s enough, but it’s just enough,” he said of the funding. “There’s always meth cases to be investigated.”
In other business at the meeting:
● The committee approved a routine purchase of six Ford Explorers through a state bid for the sheriff’s department. Five of the vehicles cost $32,975 each; the sixth is a bit more, $33,555, because it will serve as the K-9 transport vehicle and includes rear air-conditioning to keep the dog comfortable. The rears of the other squads get air-conditioning through the front of the vehicle.
● Skatrud reported the sheriff’s department is getting ready to retire Ike, the county’s K-9 since 2012. Ike will stay working until a new K-9 is ready to go into service in mid- to late-March. Ike’s handler, Deputy Cody Kanable, will continue in his role with the next K-9. Skatrud anticipates Kanable will buy Ike from the county for $1 so the black German Shepherd can live out his retirement years at home with Kanable.
● Skatrud reported he’s promoting two jail deputies, Payton Ray and Derek Whitcomb, to the patrol division. Ray and Whitcomb are set to begin the 18-week, 720-hour Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy at Blackhawk Technical College on Feb. 24. “We won’t have them back in the saddle, so to speak, until Cheese Days or shortly thereafter,” Skatrud said.
● Donna Flannery, president of the Green County EMS Association, told the committee she has testified twice now at the state Capitol in support of legislation to raise funding and support for EMS agencies. “It’s getting tougher” for many rural EMS and fire departments to operate, she said, as the needs for service grow in the aging population and fewer young people volunteer because they leave the area after graduating high school. People are also deterred from volunteering by the “countless” hours of training and other demands put on volunteers, she said.
In addition, Flannery reported she is trying to bring “Silo,” a feature film about grain bin entrapment, to Green County for a free community screening. She’s seeking sponsors to cover the $2,500 cost of screening the film.
She said she hopes to educate the public, farmers and first responders about grain entrapment, which can take a life in as little as 30 seconds. More and more people are dying after getting trapped in corn that turns to “cement” as its moisture content rises, she said.