Four-minute evacuation time requires more county jailers, expense
Staff reporter
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker is beginning to feel the heat from the state fire marshal's office.
An inspection earlier this year by the state office revealed that the county was not in compliance with having 24-hour jail supervision or a plan that would allow inmates to be able to escape the jail within a four-minute time period should an emergency arise. At that time, Becker said he wasn't sure what the timeline would be from the state but was hopeful there would be sufficient time to comply.
At Monday's meeting of Marion County Commission, Becker said a recent letter from the state fire marshal's office did not accept Becker's delay of adding more jail personnel in the 2008 budget. The state wants compliance sooner than that.
"We can ship inmates to Chase County or we can hire additional staff," Becker said. "I'm not sure if I want five employees to watch (maybe) one inmate."
Commission chairman Randy Dallke asked if an automatic exit to a fenced area outside of the building would be feasible. The question was asked if automatic doors would be functional if the electricity was off.
The issue of additional personnel was discussed. Becker estimated additional personnel would cost the county approximately $40,000 per year (which included benefits) per jailer. The sheriff estimated there would be a need for five people for a total bill of approximately $200,000 per year.
"I have a hard time paying someone to wait for a fire to happen," said commissioner Dan Holub. He then asked emergency communications director Michele Abbott-Becker if a second dispatcher could do the jailer job.
"If there's a fire in the jail, my priority would be to activate the backup communications center," Abbott-Becker said, and for her employees to be safe.
She added that an employee cannot answer to two bosses and she didn't want her department to be a "training ground" for law enforcement.
Dallke agreed that if there was a fire or some other emergency in the jail building, the county's first priority was to preserve life — inmates and dispatchers.
"The dispatchers have got to be able to get out within the four minutes like the prisoners," Dallke said.
Abbott-Becker reminded the commission that when the county chose to provide emergency medical dispatch service, it was made clear at that time that dispatchers couldn't always check inmates if they in the middle of providing instructions to callers before medical professionals arrived.
"Additional staff is needed anyway," Abbott-Becker said.
Currently dispatchers assume jailer responsibilities when jailers are at court or providing transfers.
"You're using less staff to provide more services," Dallke said, and there may come a time when some services will have to be cut back.
Abbott-Becker said she wanted her department to continue to provide the same services.
Dallke then suggested a fire escape be installed that would take inmates to a fenced area but issues then would arise regarding unguarded access in the building and a need for additional surveillance cameras.
For Holub, the obvious solution is additional staff. He also was concerned about wasting tax dollars.
"I hate for us to upgrade the old jail when we're considering a new facility," he said.
Becker said there were 400 people who were incarcerated in 2006, which would be extremely expensive if the county should choose to farm out those prisoners to Chase County.
Abbott-Becker said she could add to her staff number but would need clarification if they would have other duties that could take them away from the building.
Commissioner Bob Hein asked Becker if he had a timeline.
The state fire marshal's office hasn't given the county a specific date yet but "they're making me squirm," Becker responded.
"They (state fire marshal's office) could come in and say, 'Becker, you're done' and we'd be closed down," Becker said.
The county will review more options at the next meeting.
