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County Council scrutinizes security at jail, DD site

8/30/2012 - South Side Leader
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By Kathleen Folkerth

Gene and Betty Stalnaker, shown at right, of Tallmadge, presented the quilt they owned to Summit County Council President Jerry Feeman (D-District 6) at the Aug. 27 meeting. The quilt, of which part is shown above, had been on display at High Street Christian Church, which is moving from Downtown Akron to Green.
Photos: Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Concerns about security in two different county facilities came up during Summit County Council’s Aug. 27 meeting.

Issues with the jail and its staffing were raised during a discussion on an unrelated piece of legislation from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, while members also discussed a request for a deputy at the Summit County Board of Development Disabilities (Summit DD) site on Howe Road in Tallmadge.

The jail discussion came after Council heard a request to pass on first reading a resolution to authorize the sheriff’s office to hire a civil clerk despite the county’s hiring freeze. The legislation prompted Councilman John Schmidt (D-District 2) to ask Inspector Bill Holland if inmates at the Summit County Jail were allowed time to go to the gym and religious services. Schmidt said denying those two activities has a “deleterious effect” on the jail.

Randy Briggs, of the Sheriff’s Office, said the office is down 42 deputies from three years ago, which means that inmates are getting very little recreation time.

“We are very short-staffed right now,” Briggs said.

He added the office is also short 14 sergeants, which means the use of overtime is up since two sergeants must be on each shift.

Holland did say that laid-off deputies have been called back, and the office recently held interviews for new candidates.

Council also discussed and adopted a resolution allowing a six-month policing contract with Summit DD that would see a deputy with a sheriff’s vehicle at the main site.

“Given today’s atmosphere, it’s critical for the board to provide this,” said Briggs, who noted there had a been school shooting that day in Maryland.

Briggs said funds for the contract, which totals $47,227, was in the Summit DD’s budget, and the six-month period would allow officials to “see how it goes.”

Councilwoman Gloria Rodgers (R-District 3) questioned the need for a marked vehicle at the site, which she said is small enough to easily move around. However, Briggs disagreed and added the Summit DD requested the vehicle for visibility.

“Having a deputy there without a vehicle is like a deputy without bullets for a gun,” added Councilman Nick Kostandaras (D-District 1).

Also Monday, Council adopted on first reading a resolution confirming the revised assessment cost for the Whitefriars Drive sanitary sewer project in Coventry.

Mike Weant, of the county’s Department of Environmental Services, said the total cost of the project is $500,633, which is under budget.

“There’s no surprises for the residents, and everyone appears to be satisfied,” Weant said.

He added that the resolution was the final piece of legislation for the project, which has been in the planning stage for several years.

Also, Council adopted on second reading an amended ordinance that revises the county’s animal control laws based on changes made at the state level.

Council also adopted a resolution that will continue the current policy of not paying jurors in Summit County Common Pleas Court for the first 10 days they serve but provide parking validation instead.

In addition, Council adopted a resolution allowing the Engineer’s Office to purchase 600 tons of road salt from Coventry Township at a cost of $26,886. The township did not have a place to store the salt, which it was required to purchase as part of its contract, according to officials from the Engineer’s Office.

Also during the meeting, Council President Jerry Feeman (D-District 6) and County Executive Russ Pry accepted an antique quilt from Gene and Betty Stalnaker of Tallmadge. The quilt had been on display at High Street Christian Church, which held its last service in Downtown Akron last week before moving to a new campus in Green.

County officials estimated the quilt, which contains names of Akron businesses and families stitched in red, could be from as far back as 1889.

County Council will not meet Sept. 3 due to the Labor Day holiday. Council will next meet Sept. 10 at 4:30 p.m. for committee meetings in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.

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