Sheriff develops committee to look at courtroom security

by Angie Asam, Staff Writer

Courtroom security fell under the microscope as Presque Isle County sheriff Bob Paschke met with the judges, the undersheriff and the court officer two weeks ago to discuss the shortcomings. In a brief conversation the group discovered several issues with the security in especially the 53rd Circuit Court courtroom. Paschke informed the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners that the group had the desire to get a committee formed to examine courtroom security further and requested that one or two commissioners be a part of that committee. The commissioners decided that the courthouse and grounds committee members Mike Grohowski and Mike Darga would join the committee.

?Our security here is not very good. We are running inmates up and down hallways. The judge may have to walk in the hallway along with the inmates. The prosecutor?s office is wide-open. We have a lot of things to look at. I think this is a good way to start,? said Paschke. The committee will go into the courtrooms and see what improvements need to be made. Paschke said the group already did some small quick fixes but believes there are larger structural things that will possibly need to be done.

?I think what we are going to probably want to hear back from that committee is possible costs and whether or not we want to put that kind of improvement into this building. It might be a initiative to rethink this entire courthouse project,? said chairman of the board Carl Altman. The commissioners also discussed the idea of video arraignments, which would help keep the inmates away from the general public. The committee will also look at costs for that type of a system.

Prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger was also invited to join the committee as he voiced that there are times he has concerns about safety and security. ?We have had people run. The courtroom (circuit court) was built for a different era,? said Steiger. The commissioners viewed Paschke?s concerns as a very serious matter. ?This could be a campaign for a new courthouse. By going through this process we can show the cost of the necessary renovations that would be needed to keep our courtroom safe and secure,? said Grohowski.

IN OTHER COUNTY BOARD NEWS: ? An economic development planning project came before the board from the North East Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG). The project, to do a feasibility study on the development of biomass gasification system(s) in Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle Counties. The project would involve the reduction of solid municip

al waste into gas that is used by electrical generation companies. The board was unclear on the cost to the county for the study and will get clarification before taking action on the document.

? The county will borrow up to, an amount not to exceed, $2.5 million against the anticipated delinquent 2009 real property taxes. Last year the county approved borrowing up to $2.2 million but only borrowed $1.2 million. After the county passes the resolution they cannot change the amount, so they consistently put in a higher amount on the resolution to protect themselves if they would need more than anticipated.

? Joe Cercone, executive director of the county development commission/economic development commissioin, will be looking over a project survey that came from NEMCOG to the commissioners. NEMCOG asked the commission to review the document. Finding that some of the projects in there had already been completed the commissioners felt it needed some review. Cercone then volunteered to follow up on the list, make some changes and report back to the commissioners.