The Green County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee likes its cars local and its dogs European.
At a monthly meeting Wednesday, the committee approved the purchase of new sheriff's patrol vehicles from a local dealership and a European-trained German Shepherd from an Iowa kennel.
Ruda Chevrolet of Monroe won bids for two Impala sedans, at $22,290 each, and a $30,146 Tahoe SUV. These prices include a 25-percent service discount. The committee considered but ultimately rejected bids from Alphorn Ford, Dearth Motors, Ewald Automotive Group and New Glarus Motors.
Committee members agreed they wanted to stick with the Impala, at Sheriff Jeff Skatrud's recommendation, and keep the purchases as local as possible - even though Milwaukee's Ewald Automotive Group offered the slightly cheaper bid of $21,653 for an Impala.
Skatrud said his department retires sedans after 105,000 to 110,000 miles, which only takes about nine months when the vehicles are out on patrol three shifts every day.
"They're always rolling, so they rack up the miles," he said. The Impala gets good gas mileage and fits the squad gear just right, he added.
The committee also approved the first payment toward a $12,000 male German Shepherd from North Iowa K-9, a kennel that imports European-trained dogs. The sheriff's department is retiring its current K-9 Unit at the end of April.
Skatrud visited North Iowa K-9 and said he was impressed with the facility and program. In May or June, he expects to send an officer there for a three-week intensive training with the new dog. Since the current K-9 handler is retiring from the position, Skatrud is considering three applicants from within the department as a replacement.
The dog itself costs $6,000 and comes with a one-year health guarantee. The required handler-training costs another $6,000.
Also at the meeting Wednesday, the committee approved a cost increase to jail inmates for an electronic monitoring program. An eligible inmate will now be asked to pay $20 per day to participate in off-site monitoring, up from $15. The program's set-up fee of $20 is going up to $50. The jail pays $11.50 per inmate per day for the program's equipment and monitoring software.
"We're still lower than most other counties that offer electronic monitoring," Skatrud said. But, he added, the jail is better off financially to get inmates out of the jail than it would be to take a higher fee and have fewer inmates able to afford it.
Other items voted on or discussed at the meeting:
n The committee approved changes to the partnership guidelines with the Green County Humane Society (GCHS), as presented by GCHS board president Paul Barrett. Changes include a clarification that dangerous dogs and feral cats cannot be admitted to the humane society. Barrett said the shelter is not equipped to handle these animals. The committee decided to annually review and approve the GCHS guidelines.
n The jail housed a daily average of 51 inmates during February, according to Skatrud. Of the 22 inmates eligible for Huber work-release privileges, only three worked.
n Skatrud suggested an annual hearing test of the sworn members of his department, especially those who go out on patrol. Skatrud said he last got his ears tested in 1981 when he was hired into the department as a patrol deputy. The committee was receptive, and the topic will be scheduled for a future agenda. If approved, Skatrud said his staff could get tested at the same time as the Green County Highway Department staff for about $21 per person per year. The highway department already does annual hearing tests on its staff.
At a monthly meeting Wednesday, the committee approved the purchase of new sheriff's patrol vehicles from a local dealership and a European-trained German Shepherd from an Iowa kennel.
Ruda Chevrolet of Monroe won bids for two Impala sedans, at $22,290 each, and a $30,146 Tahoe SUV. These prices include a 25-percent service discount. The committee considered but ultimately rejected bids from Alphorn Ford, Dearth Motors, Ewald Automotive Group and New Glarus Motors.
Committee members agreed they wanted to stick with the Impala, at Sheriff Jeff Skatrud's recommendation, and keep the purchases as local as possible - even though Milwaukee's Ewald Automotive Group offered the slightly cheaper bid of $21,653 for an Impala.
Skatrud said his department retires sedans after 105,000 to 110,000 miles, which only takes about nine months when the vehicles are out on patrol three shifts every day.
"They're always rolling, so they rack up the miles," he said. The Impala gets good gas mileage and fits the squad gear just right, he added.
The committee also approved the first payment toward a $12,000 male German Shepherd from North Iowa K-9, a kennel that imports European-trained dogs. The sheriff's department is retiring its current K-9 Unit at the end of April.
Skatrud visited North Iowa K-9 and said he was impressed with the facility and program. In May or June, he expects to send an officer there for a three-week intensive training with the new dog. Since the current K-9 handler is retiring from the position, Skatrud is considering three applicants from within the department as a replacement.
The dog itself costs $6,000 and comes with a one-year health guarantee. The required handler-training costs another $6,000.
Also at the meeting Wednesday, the committee approved a cost increase to jail inmates for an electronic monitoring program. An eligible inmate will now be asked to pay $20 per day to participate in off-site monitoring, up from $15. The program's set-up fee of $20 is going up to $50. The jail pays $11.50 per inmate per day for the program's equipment and monitoring software.
"We're still lower than most other counties that offer electronic monitoring," Skatrud said. But, he added, the jail is better off financially to get inmates out of the jail than it would be to take a higher fee and have fewer inmates able to afford it.
Other items voted on or discussed at the meeting:
n The committee approved changes to the partnership guidelines with the Green County Humane Society (GCHS), as presented by GCHS board president Paul Barrett. Changes include a clarification that dangerous dogs and feral cats cannot be admitted to the humane society. Barrett said the shelter is not equipped to handle these animals. The committee decided to annually review and approve the GCHS guidelines.
n The jail housed a daily average of 51 inmates during February, according to Skatrud. Of the 22 inmates eligible for Huber work-release privileges, only three worked.
n Skatrud suggested an annual hearing test of the sworn members of his department, especially those who go out on patrol. Skatrud said he last got his ears tested in 1981 when he was hired into the department as a patrol deputy. The committee was receptive, and the topic will be scheduled for a future agenda. If approved, Skatrud said his staff could get tested at the same time as the Green County Highway Department staff for about $21 per person per year. The highway department already does annual hearing tests on its staff.