Supervisors Approve Sheriff Contract

By Mario Conde

The County Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday to have the Sheriff Department take over law enforcement duties for five years in the City of Holtville.

The County Supervisors tabled the item one week ago since the County Auditor did not include the equipment expenses that would add $55,000 to the $955,198.00 that was original budgeted for this agreement. County Executive Officer Ralph Cordova said last week that by not including the equipment expenses the agreement would not be cost neutral and will have negative effects to both parties.

The Board decided to table the item with direction to have the City Manager and the City of Holtville deliberate on the new deal. Both parties agreed on Tuesday that the new amount $975,874 that will pay for five deputies, 1 sergeant, and one dispatcher. Dispatching duties were done in Calexico and will now be moved to the Sheriff Department starting next year. Overtime will be compensated at actual cost. Cost for any additional county personnel will be billed for at fully burdened hourly rate. County shall furnish all necessary equipment; the City of Holtville shall furnish office space and necessary associated services. The board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve this item that will run from January 2010 to January 2015 with an option of terminating the contract the first year.

City Manager Laura Fischer and Councilmember Jerry Bristten thanked the County Board of Supervisors for approving the contract and for helping the City.

In other County items, the board approved a grant agreement with the National Association of County & City Health Official for integrating climate change and public health programs as local Health Departments.

County Public Health Director Robin Hodgkin informed that he County received a sub-award grant of $47,071 from the National Association of County and City Health department. The County of Imperial was one of the counties in the nation to be part of this demonstration project. The purpose, Hodgkin Said, is for her department to work towards increasing the level of coordination and communication addressing and analyzing the public health consequences of climate change.

The Board also approved the purchase of vehicle to be used for search and rescue I the dunes area and outlying desert areas when BLM EMS services are not available. The board approved the purchase of one Ford F-150 4×4 rescue truck. The cost purchase for this vehicle will not exceed $10,000.