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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell disappointed Flint emergency manager rejected county bid to operate city lockup
Published: Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 4:55 PM Updated: Wednesday,
GENESEE COUNTY , MI -- Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said he's disappointed Flint's emergency manager decided not to let the county operate the city lockup.
Pickell said he proposed a plan that would have used 15 laid off Flint police officers and firefighters to operate the lockup, but was told by emergency manager Michael Brown's administration that the city instead plans to privatize operation of the jail.
Brown said today that the deciding factor was potential liability, since the city is self-insured. Using a private company would be a "buffer" against potential lawsuits that could tip the city toward insolvency due to its precarious financial situation, Brown said.
Pickell, however, said he thought it would have been a great way for the city and county to partner and create jobs for laid off employees.
"It was just a good fit," he said. "I'm disappointed."
Brown had said previously he was concerned about the liability of the county operating the city facility, because a county-run jail requires a higher level of care and services for inmates.
But Pickell said he was told by state Department of Corrections officials that he could receive a waiver to operate the lockup as a temporary holding facility -- not a full-fledged county jail.
"Those were no longer issues," he said.
Brown said he plans to have the lockup opened by the end of September, using a portion of $3 million granted by the state for jail space.
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook
doint4me
I find it typical, but no less disgusting, that Pickell is now claiming to be disappointed that he will not be chosen to run the city lock-up when, just a couple of months ago, he spoke and the 225 club luncheon and said re-opening the city jail was a bad idea because doing so would place an added burden on the county jail unless, of course, he ran it. Which is it Bob?
Re-opening the city jail is one of the most important decisions that could be made and doing so is essential if Flint wants to start to get a handle on the crime issue and, rest assured, Pickell is not the man for the job considering he hasn't been able to figure out the county jail overpopulation issue during his long reign.
I am curious though as to which company will get the nod to run the city jail and if there are any connections to local leaders. I also wonder how the power brokers are going to get their friends and high paying clients out of jail with a stranger in charge.
rjriley5000
I am sure that those who are currently laid off will be able to apply for jobs when the jail is open.
Davret
Once again the sheriff is trying to expand his power. This is a good move by Mr. Brown, protecting the city from liability. There are always expensive lawsuits when it comes to jails. I bet the county was not willing to cover the city with their liability insurance.
uhtoh7
Great job NOT letting Pickell and Swanson run the city lock-up. They are trying to get rid of their own personnel as we speak so why let them run anything extra. The State knows all about how these two treat their own, can you say "multiple unfair labor practices". They forgot where they came from, union busting bullies!! Disciplining Union Reps because you didn't like what they wore AFTER they caught Swanson lying on the stand?!?! Give us a break. Please just go away. Time for fresh faces !!
shanedr
"Brown said he plans to have the lockup opened by the end of September, using a portion of $3 million granted by the state for jail space."
A portion? Where is the rest of that grant going to be spent? Doesn't a grant for a specific purpose require that it all be spent for that purpose?
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:56 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint emergency manager plans to privatize operation of city jail
Published: Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 4:00 PM
By Ron Fonger | RFONGER1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- When the city jail reopens later this year, a private company will apparently be watching the inmates.
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown confirmed his decision to privatize the operation of the city lockup today after Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jamie Curtis was told Sheriff Robert Pickell was no longer in the running to handle the job.
Michael Brown
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The big issue is liability," Brown said today. "We are self-insured and (it doesn't make sense) to expose ourselves to that kind of liability ... with the financial situation we're in.
"Anything could tip you toward insolvency."
The emergency manager said having a private company operating the city lockup provides a "buffer" to any future lawsuits against the city.
The lockup can only hold suspects for 72 hours before they're arraigned and then released or sent to the county jail.
Brown has been an advocate of reopening the city jail as a way of taking those accused of crimes off the street rather than issuing them appearance tickets.
Funding to pay for the lockup is included in the coming year's state budget.
City officials originally approached Pickell about his interest in operating the lockup, and county officials encouraged the idea, saying it had the potential to give the sheriff more flexibility in managing the flow of inmates from the lockup to the chronically over-crowded county jail.
Pickell said he was disappointed with the decision to privatize administration of the lockup and county commissioners blasted the move.
"That decision yesterday didn't come from the city of Flint. It was a decision by the state of Michigan," said Commissioner Patrick Gleason, D-Richfield Twp. "That (decision) was a serious, serious mistake."
Gleason said Gov. Rick Snyder, who appointed Brown emergency manager, has talked about best practices and the efficiencies of joint government services but practiced them selectively.
"The first time they had the chance to do something good for this community," they didn't, he said. "They say one thing. They do just the opposite.
"You're preaching it, practice it."
Brown said his goal remains reopening the jail in the third quarter of this year.
Gov. Rick Snyder signed a budget bill in April that included $3 million to house county jail inmates in other county jails. The funding can also be used for reopening the city lockup, and Snyder pushed for and received additional funding for Flint jail space in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
tigerguy24
OK...naysayers...it's cheaper to privatize...would you be willing to pay more tax to let govt employees do it? Of course they make a profit...that's why the company that you work for is in business.
Flintasite
Just heard on the radio that this is an "international" corporation taking over the jail. So Michigan's tax payers will now be funding a "for profit" company that is not even in the USA. Why has the name of this company not mentioned in the article. This is just the beginning of Flint being privatized by international companies. The EFM did it to Pontiac, now its starting here. The bus company taking over services is also a British company!
Xavier Justice
Do you all realize what this means? This FM wants to allow a corporation to run our jail! CORPORATE PRISONS = SLAVE LABOR. Corporate prisons are all over this country and making BILLIONS from tax payers under the guise that "its cheaper for corporations to house offenders." BS! The war on drugs was created to house these slave labor camps. Don't believe me? LOOK IT UP. Corporate prisons currently contract prisoners out for pennies on the dollar all over this country. Its a scam, its corrupts, its immoral! FIGHT THIS NOW.
tigerguy24
This is strictly a turf battle between the County and the City....the County cannot believe that a private company can do as good a job as some government agency. What difference does it make to the County....you get your space to house offenders....that's the goal. It also is just another run at the Emergency Manager position that the democrats cannot accept because of the governor's party affilitationj. If Jennifer was still there this discussion would never have taken place....Pat Gleason.
Whiteone
Having the Sheriff manage the Flint lock-up is a no brainer. Snyder is going to bring one of his business buddies in to run the lock-up for a kick back... Under the table deals is what got Flint into this mess and under the table deals will continue to hold Flint hostage... Exit stage left!
Flintasite likes this. |
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:13 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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State: $3M to be used for Genesee County jail space until Flint delivers plan for city lockup
Published: Friday, April 13, 2012, 2:49 PM Updated: Friday, April 13, 2012, 7:52 PM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The Flint area won't have to wait long to see the benefits of the $3 million that Gov. Rick Snyder has approved to open up local jail space.
As soon as Snyder signed the supplemental budget bill on Thursday, the funds were made available to the Michigan Department of Corrections for clearing space in the county jail or for reopening the Flint city lockup, officials said.
All of the $3 million in funding is being funneled through the corrections department.
Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said the funds, at least for now, will primarily be used to transport and house Genesee County inmates in other jails in Michigan -- an initiative that started last year -- until the city delivers a plan for reopening the lockup.
"The $3 million, the way we're looking at it now, is for a continuation of what we're doing," Marlan said, referring to the inmate transfers. "Should the city want to explore opening the lockup, and put out requests for proposals, then they could tap in to that funding."
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown on Friday said he intends to meet with state officials next week to talk about potential ways for getting the city lockup reopened. He said privatizing jail operation is a possibility, but no decisions have been made.
Reopening the city facility, which is located in the basement of the Flint police department, has also been stressed by Snyder.
"It's absolutely still a priority (of the governor)," Snyder spokesman Terry Stanton said Friday. "The city will be working toward that."
Marlan said the state is currently housing 100 Genesee County inmates in other jails. The previously allotted $1 million for that program ran out in March, he said, but the department continued with the program using other corrections department funds.
"We didn't want to take these 100 prisoners back to the Genesee County Jail and say 'Sorry, that money is out,'" he said. "We wanted to continue the same thing we've been doing since last summer."
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:20 am |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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An International company.......
The People's Democratic Republic of China?
They have lots of experience at running prisons. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:30 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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My thought too Dave.
I have to agree with Brown on not awarding the contract to the county. If you read the articles on Pickell towards the city lock-up, he was never in favor of it.
Then look at the opinions voiced by the Corrections spokesperson, Russ Marlin. It seemed like he was biased in favor of Pickell. Granted the city should have Requests for Proposals (RFPs) but it would have been foolish to ask them before the City knew any money would actually be in play.
What the article did not say was if the Corrections Department shifted any of that 43 million from April to the city. The State's fiscal year starts October 1. So if Brown must wait until then for the jail to open that is a pretty good sign Brown did not get much, if any, of the April funding. If that is the case, I would not trust the county to treat the city lock up in a fair and equitable fashion.
While I am not in favor of privitization, with the limited resources being given to the city from the state, it appears the only way to go.
Brown would have had to get approval from the state for a contract this large. That implies the state agrees on the issue with Brown. Time will tell if this company selected ia another Snyder ally. We can forget transparency again as we have yet to be told who the company is. |
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Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:33 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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From the thread on Pontiac EM accused of bid rigging.
One responxe to the journal was an international company would run the Flint jail. This Danish company is already in Michigan running jails. Could this be the company Brown will hire?
Schimmel said that Warren is considering following the example of Sterling Heights, which contracted out the management of its jail last year. Sterling Heights replaced the police officers at their jail with the Danish private security company G4S— once known as Wackenhut.
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:22 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Jails may be privatized under Emergency Manager law
Even private police could be considered
By Eartha Jane Melzer | 03.21.11
| 11:07 am
In addition to allowing previously negotiated union contracts to be voided, Michigan’s new Emergency Manager law gives appointees the authority to privatize police services and jails.
Indeed, voiding labor contracts and outsourcing government services is a key aspect of how they are expected to balance the budgets of financially stressed towns.
“[C]ertain functions of police work, such as jails, can easily be privatized,” said Louis Schimmel, executive administrator for the city of Warren.
Schimmel has deep experience with applying private sector solutions to economically struggling towns. In 1986 he was appointed receiver for the city of Ecorse, where his efforts to cut costs through privatization were dubbed by the Mackinac Center, “a major, although tentative victory for market forces.”
As emergency financial manager in Hamtramck from 2000-2006 Schimmel sold off the Dept. of Public Works.
Schimmel said that Warren is considering following the example of Sterling Heights, which contracted out the management of its jail last year. Sterling Heights replaced the police officers at their jail with the Danish private security company
G4S — once known as Wackenhut.
Schimmel said that a lack of private sector alternatives makes it difficult to privatize whole police departments but communities can consolidate services and costs with neighboring municipalities or purchase services from the county.
This is underway in the city of Pontiac, where the police, under pressure from emergency financial manager Michael Stampfler, voted to dissolve their union in expectation that some would be hired on by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept.
Some are worried that the rush to cut police labor costs will impair public safety.
According to Michigan Association of Police Chiefs executive director Tom Hendrickson, there is no requirement for minimum level of police services in Michigan communities. “There could be literally no police,” he said.
Privately run jails and prisons have created controversy around the country as they have become more common. A report from the Sentencing Project says that cost savings from privatization are illusory:
Research to date has concluded that there is little evidence that privatization of prisons results in significant public savings. In a 1996 General Accounting Office (GAO) review of several comparative studies on private versus public prisons, researchers acknowledged, “because the studies reported little difference and/or mixed results in comparing private and public facilities, we could not conclude whether privatization saved money.” A study by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) released in 2001 had similar conclusions, stating that “rather than the projected 20-percent savings, the average saving from privatization was only 1 percent”8 and “the promises of 20-percent savings in operational costs have simply not materialized.”
Critics also argue that private jails and prisons have significantly more safety problems, including escape attempts and assaults on guards and other inmates.
More problematic is the BJA study’s further assertion that “the rate of major incidents is higher at private facilities than at public facilities.” A survey of the prison industry conducted by analyst James Austin also found 49% more inmate on staff assaults and 65% more inmate on inmate assaults occurred in private minimum and medium security facilities than in comparable publicly run facilities.
Michigan Association of Police executive director Fred Timpner said he feels its important to maintain public control of policing
Regardless of the practicalities, however, Hendrickson argues that privatizing police work will put a crucial public function under the control of corporations and take us back to a time few would like to revisit.
“[E]arly police or sheriff’s (sic) in England were the feudal lords army,” he said via e-mail. “As a result they were controlled by the local nobility. Abuse was rampant. To this day in Europe there is fear of a private police force … they are mercenary.
kfsmith
Privatization doesn't work!!! It's been proven in many areas over the years. It starts out being less expensive so the private company can come in a run the business. In three years it will cost more and be more corrupt. It's already been investigated regarding the prison system. Make the prisoners grow and raise their own food. Sustainable prisons will reduce the cost. Stop the possibility of frivolous lawsuits against the prison sytem because someone didn't get cruchy peanut butter! Why are we paying to educate our prisoners and cutting support for education of our children? How about the cost of internet and cable TV for prisoners? Paying for unnecessary comforts could be cut before we think of privatizing. I don't agree with paying guards less money. Who wants to work for peanuts while guarding violent prisoners? The less we pay guards, the less skilled they become. That's not a good combination in that type of envrionment. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:49 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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April | 2012 | Privatization Watch | Page 2
www.privatizationwatch.org/2012/04/page/2/
Apr 13, 2012 ... The study, which examines school spending in Michigan, found that charter ......Gov. Rick Snyder's latest version of a consent agreement gives the Detroit ... started by issuing a $1.4 million contract with G4S Secure Solutions. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:58 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Everyone is hot about this. I had some police say they felt this was the worst way to go and they felt the Sheriff had the best proposal. The police did not bid on the RFP, although uniions are free to do so.
Then I had an attorney tell me what a great idea privitization was because lawyers are so "sue happy". That was until I mentioned the sheriff. His train of thought then changed dramatically and he countered with a belief that Genesee County should have a Metropolitan Police force all run by the sheriff.
Guess we will have to wait and see.
My main concern is that Snyder or friends of Snyders are orchestrating the decision. Is this a "pay to play" or friends helping friends? |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:50 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint budget cuts: Emergency manager intends to outsource garbage pickup, senior centers, other services
Published: Friday, June 08, 2012, 5:30 PM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- More jobs that have been held for decades by city workers could soon be headed to the private sector.
On the heels of confirming that the city lockup will be reopened and run by a private firm, Flint emergency manager Michael Brown said he intends to outsource waste collection, the senior centers and janitorial services.
The city is soliciting proposals from companies for all three of those areas, but no awards have been decided, he said.
"We're coming up with alternative ways of delivering services," Brown said Thursday in an interview in a conference room in the mayor's department at Flint City Hall.
The move to more outsourcing is the latest in a series of budget cutting moves Brown has made since Gov. Rick Snyder appointed him to take over Flint in December.
The city's four public golf courses were outsourced in March -- three to a private contractor and one to a nonprofit.
Other emergency managers around the state also have privatized services, such as busing in Detroit public schools, water and sewer operations in Pontiac and ambulance services in Ecorse.
More outsourcing in Flint could lead to more job cuts in the ranks of city workers.
The city has already sent out 98 layoff notices across numerous city departments this month in preparation for the 2013 budget cuts that are set to take effect when the new fiscal year begins July 1.
"It's all part of the balanced budget (which is posted online)," Finance Director Jerry Ambrose said in a written statement. "Tough times call for tough choices to be made."
Those layoffs are expected to save the city between $9 million and $10 million.
There are no estimates yet on how much the latest outsourcing moves would save the city or how many more positions would be affected.
Already, 54 positions are being cut in the city's "infrastructure" areas of service, which include water and sewer operations; waste collection; street maintenance and engineering; parks; community and economic development; facilities maintenance; and fleet.
The emergency manager said city unions would also be able to submit bids for the services when applicable.
"We're hoping it would involve better services for citizens," Brown said. "Where our people can bid on these things to provide the service, they can."
Don Lewis, president of the city supervisors union, AFSCME Local 1799, said he hopes his members will have the opportunity to review the bids first, and then submit comparable proposals.
He said it would save the city time and money to allow workers who already have the experience in those departments to provide the service when possible.
In the past, union members were allowed to review the bids and could submit proposals within 5 percent of the lowest bid and still be considered for the job, he said.
"I don't know (if we can do) that yet," he said. "Let's keep people in house who already know those areas. It's a smoother transition and seems like it would be less cost to the city and less hassle to the people trying to train them."
A request for proposals for waste collection has been posted on the city's website, and calls for a three-year contract. It also encourages vendors to hire city workers when possible.
"These private contractors shall provide, in a good workmanlike manner, the services called for and described herein which shall consist of all supervision, equipment, labor, and all other items necessary to provide the city with complete refuse collection, removal and disposal," it says. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:55 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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In the past laid off employees were paid for their unused annual and sick days up to a maximun number. Obviously Brown must be eliminating these benefits as the payouts would be large,
He will probably sell the paid off garbage trucks. But, what about the lawnmowers, etc for parks and rec. Will he give them to the Land Bank?
The garbage and waste disposal industry is the most corrupt operation in the nation. I wonder who Snyder has in mind. |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:00 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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jacksondm
This could be REALLY penny wise and pound foolish. Flint will have to pay MUCH more in unemployment insurance well into the future. The City spent a small fortune on a whole new fleet of garbage trucks under Williamson (not using the low bidder and I still believe that the Don got some sort of a kick-back on that purchase). So we will pay a vendor, pay unemployment, see our trucks deteriorate, and reduce the number of people in the city paying taxes - both income and sales taxes because of reduced purchasing power. It may well be an assault on unions, but it's an assault on all of the Flint citizens -- just not quite so obviously.
rememberwhatbushdid
What did you expect from the GOP money-changers? They are taking as many public services and turning them over to their private enterprise rich guys as pay off for the rich guys and corporations buying their seats in the legislature, (and Congress). They are even going after our schools, tearing them down through non-support, so everyone flees to the privately-owned Charter Schools where, besides taking big profits at the expense of services for students, they can also install their pro-business propaganda in the minds of our children. There are reasons for these services to remain public services. It's called Democracy.
toomuchfun4u
Looks like more of Rick Snyders Minimum Wage Michigan on the way.....so he can brag about turning around Flint on the backs of working poverty.
Good Luck Snyder Slaves! |
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Fri Jun 08, 2012 7:03 pm |
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