Vice Chairman Jerry Pardun called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present were Emmett Byrne, Jim Sundquist-Veterans Service Officer, Gary Lundberg-Citizens Patrol, Bob Hartshorn-DNR, Ken Kutz-District Attorney, Bobbi Sichta-Emergency Government Director, Terry Nesvold-Jail Captain, Sheriff Dean Roland, Chief Deputy Don Taylor, Todd Beckman-Sentinel and Nancy Jappe-Inter Co. Leader. Excused Maury Miller.

Emmett made a motion to approve the minutes from the August meeting as written, Jerry second it.
Motion made and carried.

Jim presented his monthly report and invoices for the Veterans Service Office, discussion held. Emmett made a motion to approve payment of the invoices, Jerry second it. Motion made and carried.

Bobbi presented her monthly report and invoices, discussion held. Emmett made a motion to approve the invoices and Jerry second it. Motion made and carried.

Discussion was held on the Interoperability Study. Bobbi stated that this is something she would like the whole committee to review, as it will involve a complete change with the radio service in the county. She will bring it to next month's meeting for them to go over.

Bobbi reported that the tower in Polk County would be done this year. This will be a big assist to all the emergency services in Burnett County.

Bobbi will be applying for grant with the Tribe to try and obtain funding for a tower on tribal land in the fish hatchery area, which would replace the existing tower in Oakland township. This tower is in very poor condition and something will need to be done with the Oakland tower to keep it together until a new tower hopefully will be done. Discussion held.

Bob Hartshorn, Forestry Supervisor for Burnett County was present to discuss a ordinance he would like to put into place reference fireworks sale / use during the months of April & May. The sellers could resume sales the Thursday before Memorial Day. This would help prevent fires during these months.
The ordinance would involve sales at all vendors, gas stations and stores thru out the county. Violations if caught would be:

1st Offense $500.00
2nd Offense $2,000.00
3rd Offense $10,000.00 and subsequent offenses

Bob informed the Committee that he does not want to get involved in any undercover buys, searches, seizures, etc. The individuals selling would be charged with citations if they would have fireworks out for sale during these months.

Emmett asked what could we do if an individual goes to Polk County and buys the fireworks and lights them off in Burnett County? Bob stated that we can't control the sales in other Counties but we can in Burnett County. Bob stated that it usually is just impulse buying and usually that's the ones that cause the fires during the high fire danger times. Bob stated that he knows we can't stop use 100% or stop a fire but we can make one more step to prevent sales and hopefully a fire. Jerry commented that we are very concerned about fires in the County, but we just don't want to get into the situation we did a few years ago.

Jerry asked if the Tribe has been contacted about the ordinance, as they sell fireworks on the reservation. Bob stated that he has spoken to them and he explained that the sellers have to go thru Tribal Council to get approval to sell the fireworks. Bob is confident that the Tribal Council will support this and they will then have to amend their ordinance to support ours.

Bob would like to get the green light from the Law Enforcement Committee to proceed with the ordinance. Bobbi stated that the counties mitigation plan includes taking steps to prevent fires and promote safety in the use of fireworks.

Jerry asked Ken what his feelings were on this issue. Ken stated that in the past we did seizure enforcement, but this type of enforcement with fines issued for violations seems to make a bigger impact on the violators. By issuing County Ordinances this would hit them more in the pocket and may stop the problem. Ken stated it is a benefit to have a County Ordinance as then the money from the fines stays in the county verses having it go to State. In the fireworks statue there is a provision that we can have county ordinance enforcement as well.

Bobbi asked if the big businesses have ever been asked to not sell during these months. Bob stated that he has asked them not to sell but it never was enforced therefore, they still sold them.

Sheriff Roland stated this ordinance would not be a problem with the department, as the Officers could just check the business on occasion and if they have them out the sellers would be cited.

Jerry made a motion to have Bob continue with the ordinance as the committee feels that this is a positive step in helping to prevent fires thru out the county, Emmett second it. Motion made and carried.
Bob will draft an ordinance and get it to the Corporation Counsel for approval. He will then bring it back to the Committee for their final approval.

Sheriff Roland stated that we would have to educate the vendors ahead of time, so everyone would be aware that the enforcement would be put into effect during these times. Bobbi stated that they could bring the ordinance to the LEPC committee also and they can help bring it out to public awareness.

Captain Nesvold stated that the video conferencing equipment has been paid off in the first eight months it has been in use. This is working really well and Captain Nesvold hopes Polk County will come on line also as this would be a great savings to the county. It would cut down the number of transports made back and forth for court hearings, as it has already saved approximately 5,000 miles even with them not on line. Captain Nesvold stated that when we sign the new contract with Polk County and he would like to see this written in that they will get the video conferencing up and running, discussion held.

Captain Nesvold reported that we have 75 inmates in custody today, with 39 being housed in Polk County. The numbers have been up, now with September and October being the heavy months for people coming into serve sentences the numbers will keep increasing.

Captain Nesvold asked if he could hire more part time employees as the overtime hours have been increasing. He explained by that by doing this it would cut salary expenses and help with the budget. He would like to have 2 more part time employees and we still have people on the last hiring list that we can choose from, discussion held. Jerry stated that he would have to go to Personnel Committee for this request, and Jerry stated that he thought with the hiring of the full time position they would be set in the jail. Captain Nesvold stated that he was never under that assumption and Chief Deputy Taylor stated that he felt as long as we stayed within the budget for part time it really didn't matter how many people he had working. Jerry stated that the Personnel Committee would have to review this; therefore Captain Nesvold should come and talk to them about getting more personnel.

Jerry asked if maybe some of the retired Officers would be interested in doing some transports? Sheriff Roland stated that he would check into this option.

Discussion was held on the bills submitted for payment for the Sheriff's Department and the Jail. Jerry made a motion to approve the bills as presented and Emmett second it. Motion made and carried.

Sheriff Roland informed the Committee that we would be charging $25.00 a day for housing of prisoners that are being held for municipal courts in the County. At this time Webster is the only agency doing this and we are allowed to do so per statue 303.18. Captain Nesvold stated that he has checked with other agencies and some charge and some don't. He has informed Chief Spafford that they will be charged for housing of their prisoners which are brought in on their warrants. The Committee supports this decision.

Sheriff Roland stated that he is checking into setting up an ordinance so we can be reimbursed for costs related to handling crashes. There is a program where you can turn in bills to the insurance companies to get money back from investigating accidents. The money obtained from this would go into the general fund but marked for Sheriff's Department equipment. There are some counties already doing this, but some only charge individuals that are not from their counties. Jerry stated that the fire departments do that now to non-residents and the money is used to upgrade their equipment. Jerry would like to see the Sheriff proceed with this and check with Corporation Council about the ordinance and if we should go forward with it. Bobbi stated that the Haz Mat program has money, which we can submit for reimbursement if there are accidents, which have gas spills, etc.

Gary Lundberg brought concerns to the committee reference law enforcement for Scott Township, discussion held. Gary stated that Webb Lake will be hiring a full time Officer and they will then share his time with them. Sheriff Roland stated that he has calls for more Law Enforcement in Trade Lake, Anderson, Jackson, Scott and Webb Lake each week, discussion.

Next meeting will be held October 13th at 9:30 a.m. room 162-163.

Jerry made a motion to adjourn and Emmett second it. Motion made and carried at 10:45 a.m.