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Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen came before the Cook County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 12, and told commissioners that due to staff shortages, he had to make some significant changes in his staff’s work schedules so shifts would be covered.
Eliasen said there were two openings in dispatch, and one deputy, Marcus Childs, recently resigned to take care of his family in the Duluth area. He added another deputy was in the final stages of being hired by another agency and said, “I would expect that resignation to be forthcoming as well.” He said a third deputy was being considered for employment elsewhere, which would probably happen in August. “We are working on an eight-man rotation, and we will be down to five (deputies) in August, our peak season.”
Despite the lack of staff, shifts still have to be covered, so Pat recently switched the deputies’ schedules in the middle of the year. “It’s not fair to them or their families. Days and weekends they were going to have off are gone. Vacation plans have to be changed…”
As for dispatchers, Pat said there were “two openings with our dispatch staff. Which means they have been working more than their share of hours. We may be looking at some alterations with their hours as well.
“I commend our staff and the public should commend them as well. Not many departments would accept a schedule change in the middle of the year.
“I had to do this in the name of public safety. They (deputies) do this because they are there to serve and protect.”
Eliasen said that now the county is once again having in-person court hearings, his department has been providing a security screener with on-duty deputies and Jail Administrator Fagerman performing Bailiff duties. Both he and Fagerman have been taking prisoner transport duties, so the county isn’t short on deputy patrol duties.
Because of all of the staff juggling and staff shortages Eliasen predicted, “you will probably see our overtime budget being utilized and I am forecasting that it will exceed the amount budgeted for 2022. Unfortunately, the services we provide must be continued for the sake of public safety and courthouse safety and with the minimal number of staff, this will become increasingly more difficult as current staff are pushed to sacrifice time off and experience extended work weeks.”
One of the most significant factors in attracting deputies is the lack of housing in the area. Eliasen said even if you come here with a good job in your back pocket, it doesn’t mean you will be able to find a place to live.
“One deputy lives in Silver Bay; another lives in a trailer that’s fine for the summer but wouldn’t work in the winter.”
Wages are also another matter.
“You can make a third more down in the metro area and receive a signing bonus as well,” noted the sheriff, adding Cook County can’t compete with those salaries or benefits.
And then, there is the problem of not enough people attending school for law enforcement.
“There is a shortage of applicants statewide. There are not enough people in law enforcement school right now to fill the upcoming retirements.”
Hiring a deputy isn’t cheap, noted Eliasen.
“I broke this down; for the county to hire somebody costs approximately $23,000.” That includes the overtime shift differential, interviews, administration, physical exams, a battery of psychological exams, purchasing uniforms, etc.
Administrator James Joerke told the sheriff that some of the issues mentioned were beyond the county’s control, but the point of housing might be something the county can look at.
Joerke said the county owns property that they could potentially put people in. “It would be complicated,” he added, but noted, “Without a landing place for people, it is hard to get employees.”
Commissioner Board Chair Ann Sullivan said she wanted to recognize the sacrifices the deputies and staff were making.
Commissioner Stacey Hawkins told the sheriff, “I appreciate what you are doing to get through the summer.” But she worried the deputies were being asked to do too much and lamented their lost weekends and altered vacation plans.
“We need to make it easier for people to live and work here.” said commissioner Dave Mills.
Eliasen was asked if there was a way to incentivize people to work for law enforcement.
“In my opinion, if you start with incentives with one group, you will have to do incentives with the rest of the county. So, it’s a difficult box to open up.”
In other county news:
*Land Services Director Tim Nelson came before the board to address an oversight. He said he had inadvertently misplaced an application for the Vacation Rental Review Committee and long story short, he asked the board to appoint John Fredrikson to the committee. John would be the representative for the Gunflint Trail area. He is acting president of the Gunflint Trail Association and he and his wife own Gunflint Lodge and Outfitters. Commissioners had no problem with adding Fredrikson to the committee, with commissioner Mills saying it made a whole lot of sense to him to have John’s voice on the committee, and he offered John an apology for the oversight.
*The board passed a motion to approve Auditor Treasurer Braidy Power’s request to appoint election judges to serve on the 2022 State Primary August 9 election, as well as to serve as election judges for the 2022 State General Election on November 8.
*Approved by motion was Cook County Ordinance No. 2022/ the Cook County Airport Ordinance which sets rules, regulations and minimum standards for the airport.
*Commissioners approved a public hearing to amend a property tax abatement resolution that will take place at 9 a.m. on July 26 in the commissioner’s room. Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers said that since the abatement resolution that passed on October 26, 2021, the estimated date of project completion and square footage of the project have changed Powers said the date of completion determines when the full valuation of the property occurs and the years when the abatement is needed.
*Commissioners also approved a public hearing set for 9 a.m. on July 26 in the commissioner’s room to consider changes of miscellaneous fees charged by various county services.
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