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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Genesee County, city of Flint talking about Sheriff Robert Pickell managing city lockup
Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 7:50 AM Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 11:54 AM
By Ron Fonger | RFONGER1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell would manage the Flint city jail under a plan being discussed by a representative of emergency manager Michael Brown and county officials, both sides said Tuesday.
Brown, who is expected to discuss his public safety plans in more detail next week, called the talks "real preliminary," and said county management of the shuttered facility is just one option being considered.
But Pickell and county Board of Commissioners Chairman Jamie Curtis said the idea makes sense if the county is able to get permission from the state Department of Corrections to operate the city lockup as a temporary holding facility rather than an extension of the county jail.
"What piques my interest is we could coordinate better between the lockup and the county jail," Pickell said. "It's going to be a delicate balance to prevent the county jail from overflowing" if the city jail opens.
The sheriff said many issues would still need to be worked out to develop a firm proposal for running the city lockup, which would involve transporting the arrested to court, feeding and supervision.
With state permission not to comply with more expensive county jail requirements like providing medical care, however, the job might be manageable, he said.
Gov. Rick Snyder signed a budget bill earlier this month that included $3 million to house Genesee County jail inmates in other county jails.
The funding can also be used for reopening the lockup, and Snyder has also recommended $1.5 million more for Flint jail space in next year's state budget.
Pickell has been cautious about the reopening of the city lockup, fearing it could make the chronically overcrowded county jail even more difficult to manage as inmates from the lockup are transferred to county custody.
If the county jail reaches an overcrowding emergency -- triggered by being over its capacity of 580 inmates for more than a week -- the sheriff must release inmates until it gets back to 580.
The last time Flint reopened its police lockup, that's what happened as so many fresh suspects were added to an already packed county jail that it created an emergency, forcing the early release of other inmates.
By law, the Flint lockup can only hold suspects for 72 hours before they're arraigned and then released or sent to the county jail.
Brown has been an advocate of reopening the city jail as a way of taking those accused of crimes off the street rather than issuing them appearance tickets.
A recent Flint Journal review found Flint police and state police handed out a combined 72 appearance tickets to offenders in January and February. Some were allowed to walk free, instead of getting arrested, because the county jail was too crowded, police have said.
The city recently solicited proposals from companies that would be interested in running the lockup and received responses from two companies -- G4S Secure Solutions and Graystone Management Group.
Pickell said he met with Ward Chapman, who retired as county corporation counsel at the end of last year and who has been working with Brown in his quest to fix Flint's finances, about county management of the city lockup.
Pickell said Chapman found the provision in state regulations that would give the county permission to run the city jail as a short-term facility rather than a county jail annex, lowering the cost of operation.
Curtis called the idea a potentially "perfect arrangement."
"The jail administrator and the judges can (manage) the lockup to be the most efficient," Curtis said. "People who can be (would) be cycled through there and those that need to go further (can go onto) the county jail.
"It would be the best thing," he said.
Curtis and Pickell said the county wouldn't make money by managing the city jail but would need the state money to cover its costs.
"I'm interested," the sheriff said. "But I'm not saying I'm ready to go do it."
Almost one year ago, city voters turned down a request for a new 2-mill property tax to pay for reopening and operating the Flint lockup again.
(Staff writer Kristin Longley contributed to this report. Ron Fonger can be reached at 810-347-9963. You can also follow him on Twitter @ronfonger or subscribe on Facebook.) |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:07 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"Brown, who is expected to discuss his public safety plans in more detail next week, called the talks "real preliminary," and said county management of the shuttered facility is just one option being considered. "
Snyder seems to be promoting the idea of governmental units working together to provide services. However, the idea of the Sheriff managing the lock-up is surprising consideringPickell has been quite vocal in his opposition to the re-opening of this facility. The cost and benefits of using trained jail personnel might be greater than privitizing the operation of the jail.
I missed the commission meeting, however I ran into Fonger and others who attended. Apparently little, if any discussion about this possibility took place. County officials also declined to speak on the possibility of a merged District Court system by saying discussions were "taking place behind closed doors". So much for transparency. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:18 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Jones left as the Sheriff of Ann Arbor on April 1 and since then has been working "behind the scenes" as a volunteer for Flint, according to previous statements by Brown. He is said to have been working with the governor's office and the county to implement a public safety plan for Flint.
ATTEND NEXT MONDAY'S MEETING IN CITY HALL AT 5:30 PM TO HEAR BROWN DISCUSS THE PLAN.
Flint's new head of public safety says opening city lockup 'very important'
Published: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 8:40 AM Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 8:58 AM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- The city's new public safety administrator, Barnett Jones, said Flint's lockup is a critical tool for police and reopening the facility is "very important" for local public safety efforts.
Jones, who was appointed last week to oversee the fire and police departments, made the comments as the city and Genesee County officials are in talks about the possibility of Sheriff Robert Pickell managing the city's temporary holding facility.
"It's very important for law enforcement officials to do their job," Jones said of the lockup. "Just knowing that they can make an arrest."
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown said talks with the county are "real preliminary," but said it's one of a few options on the table for reopening the facility after the state granted Flint at least $3 million to open up jail space.
A plan for the jail is part of a comprehensive public safety plan that Jones has been working on in Flint "behind the scenes," and is expected to be released next week.
"We're looking at all options," Brown said. "Where we can look at shared service agreements, that's critical."
A recent Flint Journal review found Flint police and state police handed out a combined 72 appearance tickets to offenders in January and February. Some were allowed to walk free, instead of getting arrested, because the county jail was too crowded, police have said.
Jones described the issuing of appearance tickets as "child's play," saying it's not an effective deterrent to crime. He said police need to be able to make arrests and lodge people in the holding facility.
"Negative reinforcement is how you learn best," he said.
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:56 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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REMEMBER THAT IT WAS CITY COUNCIL THAT FIRST RAISED THE IDEA OF MERGING THE CITY AND COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS. THE DISTRICT COURT HAS RUN A DEFICIT EVERY YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THE COUNTY HAS CONTINUED TO RAISE THE COST FOR RENT AND OTHER SERVICES.
THERE WILL NO NEED FOR DUPLICATE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. THE MAIN QUESTION IS HOW MANY CITY COURT WORKERS WILL BE LOST?
THE JUDGES FOR 68TH WOULD STILL BE ELECTED BY THE CITY AS THAT IS THE POPULATION THEY REPRESENT. THE CITY PAYS 50% OF THEIR SALARY AND BENEFITS AND THE CITY PAYS THE OTHER 50%.
WHEN FLINT ELIMINATES ONE JUDGE, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE, THERE WILL BE FURTHER SAVINGS. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:14 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Channel 12 just reported that several groups are protesting some potential changes proposed in the negotiations for a merger. They want to ensure the satelite courts are not merged with the downtown courts as it would potentially cost small outlying communities more money. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:03 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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| Why worry about the city lockup? By the time Brown's done there won't be any officers on the street to lock anyone yup. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:49 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Four groups opposed to court consolidation plan
Posted: Apr 25, 2012 6:02 PM EDT Updated: Apr 25, 2012 6:45 PM EDT
By Rebecca Trylch - bio | email
GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) -
(04/25/12) - Tuesday, the State Court Administrative Office confirmed there are state-level talks about dissolving 68th District Court in Flint and absorbing it into the 67th District Court operations.
As it stands right now, 68th District handles City of Flint cases, while the 67th covers the rest of Genesee County.
Right now, the consolidation plan is just that, a plan.
But some groups are already vocalizing opposition to the idea.
Wednesday, ABC12 obtained copies of three letters of opposition and one resolution urging the Genesee County Board of Commissioners to oppose any plan to consolidate the two courts.
They include the Genesee County Association of Chiefs of Police, the Genesee Landlord Association, the Genesee County Small Cities and Villages Association and Davison Township.
Most worry that the consolidation would mean doing away with the satellite courts that are spread out around the county, and would move all operations to the central Flint location.
They say that would cost small communities time and money, and could leave them unprotected at times.
"There are a lot of small communities in Genesee County that have very limited police resources right now. And if they have to spend much time going all the way down to Flint to take care of work at the court, that's time that they're not available in their community," said Mark Hoornstra, the Flushing police chief who also is the president of the Genesee County Association of Chiefs of Police.
Hoornstra says it's hard for him to see how this plan would save any money. |
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Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:30 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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RON FONGER HAS THE MOST COMPLETE STORY ON POTENTIAL MERGERS.
Flint, Genesee County district courts could be consolidated; six satellite courts shuttered
Published: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 4:00 PM Updated: Thursday, April 26, 2012, 4:29 PM
By Ron Fonger | RFONGER1@mlive.com
(This is an updated version of a story posted earlier.)
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A legislative effort to merge Flint and Genesee district courts into a single operation and possibly close satellite courts in Burton, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Grand Blanc and Mt. Morris is being developed by the State Court Administrative Office, an official with the agency has confirmed.
Marcia McBrien, an SCAO spokeswoman, said today that the discussions are preliminary but may be needed because of the city of Flint's shrinking population and to gain new cost savings for taxpayers.
McBrien's comments come in the same week that members of the county Board of Commissioners complained that the court reforms are being developed behind closed doors, without their input.
Already, commissioners are hearing from local municipalities, police and other organizations, protesting the potential consolidation and closings.
Commissioners said Genesee Circuit Judge Richard Yuille, chief judge of all Genesee County courts, is involved in discussions being coordinated by SCAO in Lansing.
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All (Yuille) has told me is there's all this talk going on," said Board of Commissioners Chairman Jamie Curtis said. "The bills are out there -- behind a closed curtain -- and we're left out of the loop."
The Flint Journal could not immediately Yuille for comment on the issues of consolidation and closings today. In a telephone message left with a Journal reporter, Yuille said he plans to meet soon in one-on-one sessions with individual Genesee District Court judges.
Curtis said he's concerned because he believes Flint District Court is a money loser for the city of Flint -- something he said he's not willing to take on without help from the state.
"We are not taking on their legacy costs. We are not taking on their debt ... ," Curtis said. "I will never support anything that has an adverse effect on Genesee County government."
It is the state Legislature rather than the that county that will decide on changes to the district court system here.
McBrien said the current discussions were triggered by a 2011 report by her office, which concluded Flint District Court has too many judges -- five, each of whom earn annual salaries alone of $138,272.
Earlier this year, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill to reduce the number of Flint District Court judges to four through attrition, but that might not happen for nearly a decade.
The population of the cit of Flint decreased by 11.2 percent from 1990 to 2000, and an additional 18 percent from 2000 to 2010, the report said. Between 2003 and 2010, case filings in Flint District Court dropped by 51.3 percent -- from more than 47,000 to more than 23,000 -- but the number of judges remained the same.
Although consolidations are being looked at around the state, McBrien said Flint's "significant" reduction in case filings made it a priority and changes would likely be presented in a single bill that deals with this area alone
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"A lot of district courts are now in areas with dwindling populations," she said. "You start asking yourself, 'Is there a better way of doing this?' "
Curtis said he believes changes are inevitable and said the area's first clue was the appointment of Yuille as chief judge of circuit and district courts in the county late last year.
At the time Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. made the appointment, the state said it was "intended to foster new initiatives to better serve the public and take advantage of all judicial resources."
"All the courts in Genesee County answer to Judge Yuille," Curtis said. "Step one is in place."
Although officials here have toyed with the idea of pushing for a single Genesee County District Court system -- most recently just one year ago -- the discussions have always fizzled because of the need to change state law to do so.
Flint and Genesee district courts already share the same base of operations -- the
McCree Courts & Human Services Building, which the county owns, in downtown Flint.
The county's six judges hold court in Flint as well as at satellite courts in six cities in the county -- Burton, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Grand Blanc and Mt. Morris. State law would have to change to lift an existing requirement in state law that courts be located in those communities, McBrien said
Current state law says courts shall be located "at any county seat within the district, and at each city and incorporated village within the district having a population of 3,250 or more."
If two or more cities or villages are contiguous and have more than 3,250 people, the court can establish city with the greater population. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:22 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Opposition lining up early against Genesee County court reform
RON FONGER
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Before a bill is ever introduced that could merge Flint and county district courts and close six satellite courts, groups have started to speak out against the idea.
"It could be a real cost to small villages and cities, and for senior citizens, parking is terrible in Flint," said Otisville Mayor Tom Bess Jr., who has a satellite court in Davison, about nine miles from his village. "The further government gets from the people, the less we are well represented."
View full sizeFlint Journal file photoGenesee District Court satellites like this one in Flushing could be phased out under a proposal that's under construction in Lansing. No bill has been introduced yet and approval will be needed from the state Legislature.
Otisville Village Council is among groups that have voted to oppose a merger of Flint and Genesee district courts and removal of the current state requirement that courts be maintained here in cities with populations of more than 3,250.
A spokeswoman for the State Court Administrative Office confirmed the agency is coordinating talks aimed at court reforms here but said the discussions are preliminary.
Here are some of the groups that have already voiced opposition to some of the changes that are being discussed.
•The Davison Township Board of Trustees approved a resolution opposing the elimination of Davison District Court, saying that eliminating the satellite court there "would negatively impact the police budget of the township by way of increased costs for police staffing and overtime costs by not having a local court."
•Genesee County Association of Chiefs of Police President Mark R. Hoornstra said in a letter that his membership unanimously voted to oppose consolidation legislation. Hoornstra is the city of Flushing's police chief.
•The Genesee County Landlord Association -- in a resolution opposing the merger -- said, "the people want their local courts ... The people like the fact that they can go to a local courthouse in their local community and not have to travel long distances for justice."
•The county Small Cities & Villages Association voted unanimously to leave outlying courts as they are. "Consolidated ... courts would be detrimental to the small cities and villages in our county," President Ray Foust wrote in letter to commissioners. "With the decrease in revenue sharing, municipalities are struggling with their budgets and an increase in police overtime would not be feasible."
Ron Fonger can be reached at 810-347-9963. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:26 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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mayen1985 April 26, 2012 at 6:42PM
Follow
Pavjo,
I totally disagree with your analysis. First of all if the SCAO gets it's way and merges the losing 68th District Court with the more profitably run 67th, guess what? GENESEE COUNTY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY OF FLINT'S DEBT. The 68th District court has been losing millions of dollars a year. Why should the county of Genesee, with it's own financial burdens, have to absort the debt of the city of Flint? A better solution would be to cut the number of judges in the 68th District Court because currently the six on the bench have seen their caseloads decline by 50% over the last 10 years. As for the closing of outlying courts, in theory it may look like it would save money but it will actually cost money to move six outlying courts, their judges, and staff to the McCree building. Just the parking itself will incur millions of dollars. Times are tough and tough decisions have to be made but I am not convinced that this is the way to proceed. |
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Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:30 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Home > Flint News
Draft of bill to merge Flint-Genesee County district courts would require local approvals
Published: Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 5:30 PM Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012, 5:31 PM
By Ron Fonger | RFONGER1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A draft bill that would clear the way to merge district courts in Flint and the rest of the county would require approvals by both the county Board of Commissioners and Flint emergency manager Michael Brown before it could take effect.
A draft copy of the legislation obtained by The Flint Journal includes the dual approval language, organizes cities and townships into separate divisions within the proposed consolidated district court, and allows for -- but doesn't require -- the commissioners to establish the city of Flint as the location of a central mega-court.
A representative of the State Court Administrator's Office, which has coordinated development of the proposed legislation, did not comment on the draft bill.
Judge Richard Yuille, chief judge of all courts in the county, said the consolidation draft is no longer the most up-to-date proposal that's been discussed.
Yuille said he would wait for the introduction of a bill in the state Legislature before commenting on any drafts under consideration.
"I think there is something that's going to be introduced rather soon," said Yuille, who has been involved in talks with the SCAO as the bill has been developed.
The effort to merge Flint and Genesee district courts into a single operation and open the door to closing satellite courts in Burton, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, Grand Blanc and Mt. Morris is being developed because of the city of Flint's shrinking population and its dwindling caseload, the agency has said.
Discussions became more serious after a 2011 report concluded Flint District Court has too many judges -- five -- each of whom earn annual salaries alone of $138,272.
The number of judges in the court has remained the same even though case filings dropped by 51.3 percent from 2003 to 2010, and Brown said today that the Flint court system has become a burden on taxpayers.
In the most recent fiscal year, the loss from Flint District Court was more than $4 million, said Brown, who said a merger of the court systems is worth pursuing.
"We're definitely looking at it," Brown said. "It's an area we should at least be talking about ... ."
Brown said the key to any consolidated court system will be finding a way for the county to absorb Flint District Court without sinking under its deficits.
Curtis said he's optimistic about the potential for a single district court system for the county but said that can't happen until Flint courts are "right-sized" and are not a collective burden on taxpayers.
Although Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill to reduce the number of Flint District Court judges to four through attrition, the change might not happen for nearly a decade.
Other considerations in any consolidation, according to Curtis: a lack of parking near the current central district court in downtown Flint and county's potential loss of rent from its primary tenant there -- Flint District Court.
Curtis said he's not inclined to close satellite courts even if a new bill allows for, but doesn't require it.
Commissioners have already started hearing objections to any plan to close satellite courts, and Curtis said today that he wouldn't support "cutting and slicing and eliminating services that don't need to be." |
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Wed May 02, 2012 7:52 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"In the most recent fiscal year, the loss from Flint District Court was more than $4 million, said Brown, who said a merger of the court systems is worth pursuing."
I know the courts have historically lost money, but $4 million is over the top. The courts had to be removed for part of the year because of the flooding and documents had to be salvaged. The improvements at Ciy hall and the Great lakes Tech center must have been greater than covered by insurance. |
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Wed May 02, 2012 7:56 pm |
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