Plumas County Grand Jury
2015-2016
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (1)
Findings & Recommendations
15 findings
F2:
The current under-supervised inmate work program raises multiple safety concerns: A. Inadequate staff levels with inmates present create multiple safety issues for the public, employees and volunteers, and animals. B. Inmates have the opportunity to have unsupervised communication and interaction with the public. C. Inmates have the opportunity to obtain and conceal contraband on Shelter property.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
A. The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff suspend the inmate work program until the Risk Management Department evaluates the safety and security issues stated in this report: 1) Potential risk to the public, employees and volunteers, and animals at the Facility 2) Unsupervised communication and interaction with the public 3) Opportunity to obtain and conceal contraband at the Facility B. The Grand Jury recommends that during the time of addressing inmate safety and security concerns, the Board of Supervisors approve funding for the Sheriff to hire a full-time kennel worker to perform the duties that had been assigned to the inmates.
F3:
Under-supervised and untrained inmates do not have proper knowledge of care for the animals and may represent a danger to both the animals and themselves. Further, they may have no external motivation to perform to any required standard.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that, if an inmate worker program is to be re- implemented, the Sheriff’s Office first develop a written policy clearly defining screening and training requirements prior to re-implementing that policy.
F4:
Given the size of the County, one Animal Control Officer in the field is not enough to protect the public from vicious or uncontrolled animal situations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff add an additional Animal Control Officer to the staff of the Shelter.
F5:
The absence of an approved and implemented Policies and Procedures Manual, lack of regular scheduled staff meetings, and failure to provide annual employee reviews contribute to misunderstandings among employees.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
A. The Grand Jury recommends the County Human Resources Director work with the Sheriff to finalize the Animal Services Policy Manual and assure its use in training employees, volunteers, and, if applicable, inmates. B. The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff’s Department provide all Animal Services employees with current job descriptions, including expectations of job performance. C. The Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff’s Department conduct annual reviews of each Animal Services employee to evaluate job performance. D. The Grand Jury recommends formal staff meetings between the Department head and Shelter employees on a monthly basis, with attendance mandatory. Employees should be allowed to add items to the agenda for discussion.
F6:
Non-functioning security camera surveillance is a serious safety concern for the public, the workers, and the animals.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct Building Maintenance to repair or replace the surveillance camera system with recording capability and arrange for its regular maintenance.
F7:
The emergency generator for the Shelter is not connected to the Shelter’s electrical system, but is operational. In the event of a power outage no heat, air conditioning, or light is available for staff and animals.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct Building Maintenance to properly install the existing emergency generator and provide regular maintenance. 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: Animal Services
F8:
The crematory oven is being used without any regular maintenance or servicing to assure its operational safety, which constitutes a risk to the Facility, staff, public, and animals. No on-site documentation is posted to verify maintenance, service, or operator training.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors allocate and implement regular maintenance and servicing of the Animal Services crematory oven by qualified personnel according to manufacturer’s specifications.
F9:
The failure to vaccinate all dogs being admitted to the Shelter endangers the health of all dogs at the Facility and in adoptive homes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct and allocate the Sheriff’s Department to provide the Shelter with the means to provide basic vaccinations to new animals brought into the Facility.
F10:
The two large animal exercise yards (approximately ¼ acre each) are not utilized efficiently; the lack of interior fencing allows for only one animal to occupy each of the ¼ acre areas at a time. 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: Animal Services
Related Recommendations (1)
R10:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors direct and allocate monies to install interior fence partitions for the two large exercise yards to allow for multiple animals to use the outside yards.
F11:
The Board of Supervisors did not have a backup plan for replacing the jail when they failed in their attempt to qualify for State Grant funds in 2015. The Grand Jury could find no evidence of a current financial plan in place to replace the jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors establish a clear plan to fund and locate the needed new Plumas County Jail, and ensure that monies currently assigned for the jail remain available for the purpose of replacing the jail.
F12:
The County is losing revenue based on: A. Loss of TOT tax revenue B. Lack of opportunities to be informed of possible revenue through non- participation in the CAOAC C. Loss of County and State sales tax revenue due to the County’s purchasing outside the County and State 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: The State of Plumas
Related Recommendations (2)
R12:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors: A. Direct the Treasurer/Tax Collector to identify uncollected TOT revenues and see to the consistent collection of those taxes; B. Direct the CAO or a representative of the County to attend CAOAC conferences.
R12A:
Invited Responses The Sheriff is invited to respond to:
F13:
The Board of Supervisors has no formal method of passing institutional knowledge to newly elected Board Members.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13:
The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors create written policies and procedures for: A. Educating and informing new Board Members in the responsibilities and rules governing the Board; B. Apprising new Board Members about current Board issues, District-wide and County-wide.
F14:
There is no formal procedure for handing off information from an incumbent Chairperson or Supervisor to his/her successor.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors create a formal procedure for passing information from an incumbent Chairperson to his/her successor.
F15:
One Supervisor actively pursues knowledge of other supervisorial districts by visiting the districts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R15:
The Grand Jury recommends that, in order to inform themselves of other County Districts’ needs and concerns, each member of the Board of Supervisors spend a minimum of one day per year in each of the other four Districts in the company of that District’s Supervisor.
F16:
County residents often have difficulty attending regular Supervisorial meetings, due to travel and work schedules. Additionally, the format of the meetings makes it difficult to ask questions or contribute input to local government.
Related Recommendations (1)
R16:
The Grand Jury recommends that each District Supervisor conduct a Town Hall meeting in his or her District at least quarterly to insure that all County residents have an opportunity to address individual Board members, and to encourage citizens to participate toward the health of the County. 2015-2016 Plumas County Grand Jury Report: The State of Plumas