Pubdate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 Source: Curry County Reporter (OR) Copyright: 2007 Curry County Reporter Contact: http://www.currycountyreporter.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4657 Author: Mark S. Cogan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) COMMISSIONERS FIND FAULT WITH MANDATORY MINIMUMS, MEASURE 49 The Curry County Commissioners held their Wednesday, December 17 meeting in front a scant group of listeners to address a variety of topics, a recent controversial one and a sure fire political hot button issue for the November 2008 election. The Commissioners approved a letter, under the advise of County Counsel Jerry Herbage that will be going out to those with unresolved Measure 37 claims. The letter informs claim holders about the changed in the state law after the passage of Measure 49 and advises them of possible courses of action. Herbage said the letter will be sent to people who filed claims outside of urban growth boundary. "We're going to send a letter out to people and let them know what the process is. Only 90 days and you have to choose. There isn't much we can do right now. We have to wait until they write all of the rules," said Schafer. "The writer of the legislation couldn't explain what was in there himself," said Schafer. Mandatory minimums Commissioner Schafer informed the audience about Initiative 40, which is scheduled to be on the 2008 ballot. Initiative 40 compensates counties to increase prosecution of these property crimes, auto theft, drug offenses, and burglary by funding pretrial incarceration costs at county jails, until the offender can be prosecuted. If and when convicted, the inmate would be transferred to a state prison. "If someone has a meth lab and they go to jail, they're out in 48 hours." Measure 40 tries to change that," Schafer said. "Unfortunately the change is for three years. They go to prison. That means the state has to build at least 2 more prisons." Schafer said that the district attorney's association is concerned about Kevin Mannix's initiative, particularly with respect to plea bargaining. "The DAs aren't allowed plea bargain. If they don't give them the full amount, the counties get no money for pre-trial incarceration." "While the thought is good, but the way it is written it is huge for counties." Schafer said that the mandatory minimums ballot measure came up at the last Association of Oregon Counties meeting. "It was a huge topic--very scary." Schafer said that the Oregon legislature is going to try to negotiate with Mannix to try to "lessen" the severity of these penalties. Schafer said that she was concerned about this and other ballot measures. "They did a poll, and 60% were voting yes. Like a lot of initiatives, this was not well thought out," Schafer said. "I'm going to be watching this one." Other business Georgeanne Greene, the Curry Public Health Administrator said she was awarded a school base planning grant, one of six awarded in the state. "My part was to sign my name. Two of the staff members were just hot that they needed this," Greene said. The grant will be used in the Brookings schools and will be ready by March, in time to do inoculations. Linda Morgan and Mary Frodderman wrote the $30,000 grant. Joanne Washauer received an award for her management of Curry Public Transit. "We couldn't say enough about the job you've done," Nowlin said. "A lot of things have happened with the embezzlement, but they turned things around." Commissioner Marlyn Schafer reported that she was elected to the board of the Association of Oregon Counties, a first for someone from the southern coast. After the major storm that hit the Oregon coast, Commissioner Schafer expressed her sympathy for Tillamook County. "We didn't get the rain like they did in Tillamook County. In Vernonia, there were 200 houses that were not repairable and over 400 that had major damage." Schafer said that in Tillamook County, farmers and ranchers are experiencing a shortage of hay for cattle, a supply that was lost during the heavy wind and rain. "Tillamook County, that's the cow country. The hay is lost. " "If you have extra hay, call the Department of Agriculture, they are trying to coordinate efforts." Appointments The Commissioners appointed Nancy Counts, Bruce Newman, Michael Murphy, and Tom Perry to the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC). The Commissioners also announced four vacancies on the Curry County Public Health Advisory Board, three vacancies on the Committee for Citizen Involvement, one vacancy on the RSVP Advisory Council, the County Commission on Children and Families and the Mountain Drive Special Road District. Notable administrative actions Increased the FTE status to full-time for Debbie Crumley, Administrative Secretary at the Assessor's office. Transferred Lacey Nading from Department Specialist II in the Public Health Department to a Cartographic Technician in the Assessor's Office. Increased the pay of Dr. Thomas Pitchford, Public Health Officer from 37.50 to 50 per hour. Approved a one-year extension of commercial lease for Curry County Home Health and Hospice at their Wharf Street location in Brookings. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D