Wednesday, December 19, 2012

December 18, 2012 Cook County Board Meeting

Telephones & Technology at the Court and the CTA

Commissioners absent:  Collins

Commissioner Daley was surprised by a resolution commemorating his 20 years as a Cook County commissioner.  (I believe there was cake!)

Forrest Claypool head of the CTA presented the FY 2013 Program and Budget and described some changes to the system made recently.  The senior fare will be raised 15 cents to be exactly half-fare.  The Red line reconstruction has awarded 30% of its contracts to disadvantaged south side businesses with 60% of those being black-owned.  There will be increased transit service to the Leighton Criminal Courts building and a re-opening of a stop at Loretta Hospital.  Disabled rider access will be made easier to use.

Lydia Murray,  Chief Information Officer, explained the changes negotiated with Securus telephone system used in the courts and jails.  The rates charged for collect calls made by defendants and detainees have been dramatically lowered with the goal of the County no longer making a profit on these phone calls  by the end of 2013.  This will give defendants and detainees more time to talk with their families, friends and attorneys without  paying high costs.

 Consolidation of Microsoft technology contracts among several departments has produced savings of $150,000.  The Landbank ordinance to be discussed next month is designed to turn foreclosed/abandoned land into productive property.  There has been a big drop recently in the use of electronic monitoring of adult defendants.  It appears there is miscommunication between the court, probation, sheriff, and judges regarding this issue.  Increased use should reduce costs for Cook County and better serve the defendants.

Future meetings  of the Cook County Board (in 2013) have been reduced to approximately every 3 weeks instead of every 2 weeks as is now the case.  Finance, Building & Zoning, and Roads & Bridges  committees will meet at 10:00am with the regular Board meeting beginning at 11:00am.



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