RAVALLI COUNTY DUI TASK FORCE MINUTE SUMMARY – JANUARY 31, 2008 ________________________________________________ MEMBERS PRESENT: Pete Richardson – MHP Ken Bridenbock – MHP Dave Hunkapillar – Youth Connections Chris Hamilton – Sheriff Glenda Wiles – Coordinator George Corn – County Attorney (Vote by Proxy due to court case occurring)
GUESTS PRESENT: Sara Hamilton – Public Health Nurse Christine Winterwood – Youth Court Jeff Fowler – Ravalli County Deputy
Meeting to Order: Glenda called the noon lunch meeting to order, noting Member Ivy Stirling was ill today and Member Jennifer Ray was held up with a case in Justice Court. Due to George Corns court case he was unable to attend but gave Glenda his proxy for the vote on the Corvallis Transition Class budget. It was also noted that Pete Richardson has been given another duty with the Highway Patrol so he will be out of the area quite a bit. The new Sgt of the area is ken Bridenbock and it was agreed that Ken will take over Pete‟s place as a voting member. Pete will attend as he has the time and is in town. Treasurer Report: Glenda indicated the cash balance is $19,476.00. The second DUI reinstatement deposit for the year is expected shortly. The last deposit was only $4,000.00. The only bill outstanding is a bill with Al‟s Cycle for the Yamaha Rhino that needed some brake pad work and while it was there Glenda had them do the oil change ($83.00); and the bill for today‟s lunch. Old Business: Glenda attended the State DUI Task meeting in Helena on October 30th. Jennifer was not able to attend. Glenda gave an update of items discussed.
Intoxilizer Room at the Sheriff‟s Office – Due to the space unavailable the intoxilizer room is now in a small area like a closet which does not provide good officer safety per Sheriff Hoffman. Sheriff Hoffman stated they need a new room which provides safety and security for the officer and the prisoner and he has brought this issue up to the Commissioners for their input as it seems the need now is to find some monies in order to construct a new area. Discussion included the location of the area that would be easy access, provide security etc. All agencies in the county utilize this intoxilizer for their DUI arrests. It is a critical step in the arrest and conviction of the offender. Deputy Fowler stated none of the Deputies or other officers (Stevensville, Darby or Highway Patrol) like to use this facility so they are aggressively seeking the DUI offenders. Glenda commented maybe that is why the last payment from the state on reinstatement fees is down – she would hope it was because the message about drinking/driving is getting out, when in fact it is an enforcement issue or lack thereof because of the condition of the intoxilizer room. All agreed this is an important issue. Glenda will visit with Deputy Fowler in regard to the current location and other possible locations. She will then visit with the Commissioners in regard to the money needed to have a better room. Sheriff Hoffman asked if they could utilize intercap monies for this construction. Sgt Richardson suggested the Sheriff‟s Office add the boarding bill of the prisoners to a fee for the intoxilizer for other agencies. Sheriff Hoffman stated on the first offence their office cites and releases, there is no overnight lodging. Discussion included the possible use of the Job Corp for assistance in the construction. SD-5‟s for Hamilton P.D. (hand held intoxilizers) were purchased for Hamilton P.D. in the amount of $2,250.00 as approved in the October meeting. Glenda noted the City Counsel did not like the wording in the DUI Overtime Contract with HPD so they rejected the overtime contract monies in the amount of $1,500.00. Their issue was the language under Section 2: Services which included “to perform special DUI enforcement activity within the county with the goal of making an average of one DUI arrest per each five hours of overtime enforcement”. They felt this was a „quota system‟. Police Chief Ryan Oster advised Glenda of this information asking if they can work on this wording so as not to offend the City Counselors. He also noted they have plenty of STEP monies for their DUI enforcement and he did not think he would need this additional $1,500 for this year‟s budget. Glenda noted she will work with Chief Oster for the next year‟s contract language (even though the other agencies have no problem with the language) and since they have plenty of monies for DUI enforcement, the monies that were earmarked for these OT runs can actually help pay for these SD-5‟s. Glenda discussed the activities held thus far which included the RAST training and recent Compliance Checks done by HPD and the Ravalli County Sheriff‟s Office. Six stores failed the compliance check. The Sheriff‟s Office checked 15 stores and four sold. One of which was the Stevi Cennex which is their fourth offence. In the city only two stores sold. Discussion included Stevi Cennex‟s decline for training, the letter that was sent in regard to their third sale within one year by Glenda and the County Attorney. Glenda will visit with George Corn
about sending another letter to the Department of Revenue about their lack of compliance in checking I.D. Glenda also expressed concern over the lack of a penalty for the stores. Cennex was fined $1,000 which is not much of a fine. She felt the DOR should shut down their ability to sell alcohol for a week or so, which would get their attention. But that creates a lack of revenue for the state when the alcohol is not sold. Dissatisfaction was voiced by all on this issue which included contacting the other DUI Task Forces to address the administrative side of these fines. Glenda will visit with George Corn and find out the best venue for this. Bill boards are up along highway 93 on the use of seatbelts. New Business: Glenda discussed the upcoming 8 th grade transition class at Corvallis Jr. High which will include 130 8 th graders. The National Guard will have their fly in on April 17 th which will include a general assembly. The dates for the five classes are April 22/24/28 th and 30th. The five classes included: Media Literacy (Glenda to teach); IDEP (Page, Mike, Ivy and volunteers); Alcohol as the gate way drug (Guest Speaker Tiffany Berger); Physical and Psychological changes from the use of alcohol and drugs (ER Doctors and Western Montana Mental Health Counsel Jim Mason); The Law and Financial Consequences (Sheriff Hoffman, Deputy Chief Probation Officer Clint Arneson and possibly an Insurance Agent). Glenda indicated many of these instructors will volunteer their time, but some needed to be paid which will include the Guest Speaker plus mileage and possibly the Emergency Room Doctors, IDEP and Glenda‟s time away from the Commissioners Office. Glenda noted the County Attorney‟s Office and District Court Judges have required two DUI Offenders pay the DUI Task Force $1,400 in fees. She can ear mark this money when it comes in to assist in this class. The members agreed. Sheriff Hoffman made a motion to spend up to $2,000 for this transition class. Sgt Richardson seconded the motion and all voted “aye” including George Corn‟s proxy.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 24 th but due to the 8th grade transition class this meeting will be moved to the first part of May.