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Regular Agenda Item 3. F.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	08/16/2021
Submitted For:	Michael O'Driscoll	Submitted By:	Betty Hurst, Contracts Administrator
Department:	Health & Emergency Management
Fiscal Year:	2021	Budgeted?:	Yes
Contract Dates Begin & End:	08-16-201 to 08-15-2025	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	Renewal

Information

Request/Subject

Arizona Department of Corrections Inmate Work Contract (ADC Contract No. 22-010-27) for Health & Emergency Management.

Background Information

Gila County has built a new Animal Care & Control (ACC) facility and would like to start an Inmate Work program with the ADOC. This new contract will be for a term of four (4) years. The ACC will use the inmates for the following:

Cleaning and disinfecting animal kennels, cages equipment, walkways, vehicles, and work areas to maintain safe and sanitary conditions.
Bathing, feeding, and watering animals.
Handling, playing, exercising, and walking animals.
Working with animals to train them to be socialized and ready them for adoption.

In addition to caring for the animals, the inmates will perform landscaping duties keeping the weeds in control and grass cutting. Gila County will train inmates to use handheld equipment safely and purchase safety equipment for them to use as needed. Since many of the same inmates are chosen for the same types of work, Gila County staff maintains the equipment for the inmates to use again. Gila County purchases inmate’s gloves and rubber boots.

Evaluation

The inmates work for $0.50 per hour and the hours are verified by ACC staff before billing. The ADOC officers are to be notified of the location of all the inmates during the day. Their shifts run between six (6) and 10 hours per day. Crews work four (4) to five (5) days per week. The maximum number of inmates per crew depends upon the job and ACC supervision available. Transportation to and from the starting worksite is provided by ADOC and provide sack lunches for the inmates. Inmates are not allowed to drive any licensed, over-the-road vehicle. The Correctional staff will remove or replace any inmate who does not perform to the satisfaction of Gila County.

Conclusion

The Director of the ADOC has the authority to approve inmate work crews to perform acceptable tasks in any part of the State. Gila County has a need for a labor force to support its Animal Care Division for various animal kenneling tasks by engaging this inmate labor pool. The average expense per year for Gila County is expected to be less than $6,000. Utilizing this labor force for jobs that are challenging to fill is a cost-effective approach for Gila County.

Recommendation

The Health and Emergency Management Director and the Finance Director recommend that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Chairman's signature on the Arizona Department of Corrections Inmate Work Contract (ADC Contract No. 22-010-27) for Animal Care and Control to allow inmates housed at ADOC detention facilities to provide manual labor as allowed under this Contract.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve an Arizona Department of Corrections Inmate Work Contract (ADC Contract No. 22-010-27) between the Gila County Board of Supervisors and the State of Arizona Department of Corrections, for and on behalf of its Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman/Globe, for inmates to provide services at the County's Animal Care Facility for the period beginning August 16, 2021, through August 15, 2025. (Michael O'Driscoll)

Attachments
22-010-27 IWC Gila county Animal Control