" Layoff the Sheriff, I hear he is on vacation and when he is there, he is not taking care of business. "

" Along with the hiring freezes maybe you should review all current staff in place now ...starting in the welfare department, start weeding out the none team players and those who are really lacking in skills...their are many who do not have the best qualifcations and neoptism is one of those area's that can be reduced also.

Fresh candidates not from area (out of state) bring a great perspective to job performances...it also brings up the quality of work being done...chopping block policies start with good deals for the goverment center to get rid of none-essential low-production workers and makes good sense to clean slates. In the long run it makes for better business enviroments for all workers. "

" What steps are being taken to tighten up on Welfare Fraud within the Welfare Department so as to free up money for other Emergency Service Departments? What Federal monies or maching funds are available that the County of Kings has not applied for that they are eligible to apply for during this serious crunch the numbers time. Why is it Fresno County and Fresno City receive Gang Enforcement Money but the counties and cities they are forcing the gangs to move to next aren't?
Is there a pay raise factored into the new county bugdet for Sheriff and Fire, Emergency 1st Responders to prevent them from making a lateral change to a surrounding county? If money is going to remain available to Welfare are their Management numbers going to be posted so we can call them when we have an Emergency Need filled, since the money is being cut first from those first responder programs? These are questions that need answering and not continued to be ignored. Safety of this county and medical services should be first and foremost above anything else on your agendas. It's time for a message to freebie lovers. "

" If we are in that much trouble perhaps we should have the Police Chief put that special services armored car up for sale? We could pay for a lot of Police Services with what that thing would fetch to another precinct or station right now.
Wasn't I one of the first to say purchasing that thing would come back to haunt us someday, well wake up the day is here. "

" All things considered, I think a consolidation of services and combining forces within the Police, Fire and Sheriff's Offices may be in order as we only have so many bucks to stretch across the city and county area. Why have different communications systems, different record keeping systems, finger printing, criminal investigation divisions, crime scene detectives etc., etc., How much money could be saved by revamping and reorgainizing duplicate service provided in all departments and actually gain service to the entire community by combining them. What about selling off some of the county fleet that just sets throughout the county until it might be needed, which tells me there is simply too many county vehicles being maintained and money spent on just in case they are needed. Can't more operations be conducted via the phone and cut back on gasoline useage? We were looking at meal receipts in another blog perhaps you need to look at the real necessity, everytime a county vehicle is being used it's costing replacement parts and expensive fosil fuel. Tires, batteries, oil, filters replacement parts are all expensive items when you multiply it by 200 or 300 vehicles. "

" Perhaps we might delete a number of county vehicles and replace them with hybrids, natural gas, other alternative fuels. Or even let employees use their own vehicles and reimburse them mileage. That way we are only paying when a vehicle is actually needed, instead of just setting at the county offices day after day depreciating and losing value.
These are just some areas I think need to be looked at examined and used or tossed aside but no longer ignored for their content, or there author. It's time to really reach down grab a hold of that belt and pull it in tight and get everyone through this time of budget crisis. "

" To Watchdog Fred:

While I admire you efforts to save money, the system is not set up to join law enforcement agencies. It is about jurisdictional responsibilities. Who would pay for it, the City Council or the BOS? Could you imagine them working well together? The City Council is a joke and the BOS is not far behind.

As for raises to keep people from laterling over to other agencies. they are alreading laying the foundation for not providing pay raises based upon the budget. The deputies contract ends in December and as you know, people have been leaving in droves from there. Seasoned veterans are bailing out? Why is this? "

" It is very easy to assume that County and City communications departments could just be combined in one easy step. It really wouldn't be that easy. There are a multitude of reasons this would be a logistical nightmare. There are a lot of things that could be changed to make both the County and the City governments work more efficiently and cost effectifvely. Unfortunately, being a government beuracracy, I don't believe this is going to happen.
The citizen that was concerned about first responders has every right to be concerned. There are many in positions of first responder who have not had even a cost of living raise in over 4 years. If going to another agency is what it takes to make ends meet, you will probably see a lot more of it! There are not enough city police officers to handle the volume of calls and the severity levels safely. This puts undue stress on communications and officers alike. Officer and Public Safety have to be the first priority of the communications department. People need to realize how important communications is. "

" Not to long ago the Hanford Police Officers received a nice raise. The main reason was because it was due, and a means to keep veteran officers from leaving. The Corcoran Police just recently received a 20% raise. The reason for their raise, again for the same as Hanford Police. Now, the Sheriff's Department is listed as #3 on the pole. Soon after they are passed up by Lemoore Police, the Sheriff's Department will be 4 out of 4. Kinda sad when at one time the deputies were considered "Big Brother" to all Law Enforcement Agencies in the County. They were also at one time TOP paid Law Cops in the County. Soon they will be the lowest paid and people wonder why the BOS is so messed up and WHY there is a Sheriff in Office who doesn't care about anyone but himself. The BOS and Sheriff himself CAN CARE LESS IF VETERAN DEPUTIES LEAVE. Do the math, you pay less for a rookie then you do a deputy who's been here 15 years. Sad deal. "

" I don't see why the two couldn't be combined with a willingness between departments. The city could contribute it's yearly budget for the Police Department with appropriate raises over the years and the county could do the same with the Sheriffs Department.
Communications shouldn't be that big a deal, look at the cities that have been taken over by the Sheriff's Department in different areas, you switch to the best system operating and that is the one you go with, radios should be reset to the necessary channel for dommunication, you shouldn't have to buy all new radios. If they can do it with scanners they should be able to do it with two way radios.
What about records, what is so massive about records that they couldn't be in a central location. Do we have a different court house for each the Sheriff and Police Department. Do the courts have less records than the crime enforcement offices? By combining Departments you combine your purchasing power which should allow better pricing on patrol units and everything else for that matter. An arrest form contains virtually the same information regardless of Department. "

" To: Watchdog Fred

First of all to join the agencies you'd have to breakdown the "fiefdoms" that are in place by the "kings and queens" of our beaucracries. Nothing more or less.

Forget it!!! "

" Combining communications is a terrible idea. It is easy to talk about but in reality it would compromise service. Bigger isn't always better. There has to be redundancy. Nobody wants the county dictating to them anymore than they already do. This "big brother" garbage is the past. The County can't do it better on any level... Times have changed and Kings County has not. Hanford, Lemoore and Corcoran have proven to be more progressive and have operated much more efficiently and effectively than the County. Reason? Same old guard. "Don't fix what is not broken." Ever hear a BOS say that? All of them at one point or another. If I were a City administrator I would not join the county with anything of any significance. The services they offer are second to city services. Don't get me wrong, there are some good people working at the County but they can't provide services like the cities because the culture in that entire organization needs to be changed. The leadership can't see the forest because of the trees. "

" Hey Watch Dog Fred...you have so many grand ideas why don't you run for County Supervisor? Or City Counsel? Put your money/time/resources where you mouth is! Seems like you like to ride the middle of the fence all the time and criticize both sides. We county employees, Sherrif, Communications, Welfare and all others work hard for our $$$. With the state budget going the way it is we know the hiring freeze is more than necessary. We employees still have to get the work done. You could always volunteer!
Look forward to seeing you at work! "

" Fred: you have taken a lot of heat on here and I think it is well deserved. Please, if you want to be a responsible citizen check into your facts first. I for one, am glad you care so much about your local government resources. Did you know that the armored car was NOT purchased? It was a grant (grant means money you don't have to pay back) from the Federal Government. It is to insure we can keep all citizens in Kings and our mutual aid Counties and Cities safe from riots, terrorists, or whatever. Do you really believe that handguns and shot guns will be enough if we have militant person with modified "legal" guns. NO! Remember LA a few years back? I say public safety first. And combining services would be hugely expensive. COME ON MAN. THINK-THEN SPEAK. "

" OMG wrote on Jul 11, 2008 1:40 AM:
As far as the heat is concerned I got over that in 1970 in navy fire fighting school on 32nd street in San Diego, California.
I think it would only make sense to combine forces and budgets since officers are constantly crossing and intersecting one another's territories. The thinking you speak of almost cost my parents their house one Thanksgiving as the house was burning and the City and County Fire Departments argued over who was responsible to put the fire out. We lived in the city but at that time it hadn't been annexedyet. My visiting Uncle called the city instead of the county and the arguments began. Meanwhile my Uncle an ex Navy Cook through salt in the oven fire and put it out only to have two firemen finally show up and grab a blanket to douse the fire with and then dragged it across the living room and caught the carpet on fire. A carpet my Mom had installed the Friday before Thanksgiving. Go figure. So if one goes on an ego trip the others are sure to follow. "

" To: OMG wrote on Jul 11, 2008 1:40 AM:
Now after your no confidence vote in the county, please tell the wonderful bloggers in this community if a national emergency occurs in this area who is in charge the city or county? Do we call in Homeland Security over a tornado or flood? Do we call the governor and have him activate the guard in the event of a riot or do we attempt to handle it with our armored car? Your not gonna patrol every street in Hanford with one armored car. If there is a health emergency in the city and county who deals with it? You have no faith in the government you work for and yet they have all this responsibility, but they can't possibly organize a combining of law enforcement. Your school of thought amazes and mystifies me. Furthermore, you realize grant money comes from our taxes and even though it doesn't have to be paid back it still came out of our pocket to begin with as taxpayers, did it not? So who paid for the armored car; folks? "

" To: OMG wrote on Jul 11, 2008 1:40 AM:
The only tidbit you have given me that gratifies me is knowing that the armored car we bought we don't have to pay the money back to ourselves for in addition to buying it.
The County of Tulare has emergency drills all the time for preparation for emergencies which often times involves all law enforcement agencies within the county. One of the largest problems when they began doing this is they found their communications systems were not compatible, they have since rectified that problem. So tell me how will the County of Kings deal with emergency problems if they cannot communicate, does someone have a lot of twine and empty cans laying around anywhere? Problems are only unsurrmountable if you never try to rectify them. But I would like to know our capability to deal with an emergency throughout the county? Present system means a lot of phone calls when the phones may be out. Then do we twiddle our thumbs and chew on our gum until someone comes up with a solution. Once again the mule is trying to push over pull. "

" To: Work for the County wrote on Jul 10, 2008 2:20 PM:

My working days have come and gone, guess that's why when it comes to some of the really dumb things put out here have trouble getting past me, cause I've been in more than one rodeo, if you know what I mean?
I offer to you the same question, you don't seem to have much confidence in the county either. So how will they handle an emergency with mass casualties, death and destruction, can you tell me that or is it a deep secret in a maual somewhere? All I can say is if you are all telling me, that the cities, municipalities and county have no open means of communication in the time of emergency. I guess we just better put our heads down deep between our legs and kiss our butts goodbye. Because our first reponders can't work if they can't communicate and aren't organized. Are you beginning to see how assinine your friends theory is sounding yet? As for the law enforcement agencies joining forces, I would think they would revel in doubling their size. "

" To: Work for the County wrote on Jul 10, 2008 2:20 PM:
You know I am pretty gulible, I had a Ltjg tell me one time while on my general quarters station on gun mount #54. That I should button the top button of my dungaree shirt and that I should fold the bell bottoms of my trousers over and tuck them in my socks, just in case we had a nuclear attack on the carrier. Now I did as he instructed me, but I knew full well if that ship was hit with a nuclear attack it had very little to do to protect me to button my shirt or took my dungarees in my socks. Also ten other sailors did as I did with this silly grin on their faces cause they knew as I did it didn't mean a hill of beans. But someone had to be in charge.
So I would think if we pooled our resources and manpower it only stands to reason a better job could be accomplished. On a ship you have one Captain and one Executive Officer no others can take over that ship, it's mutiny. "

" Work for the County wrote on Jul 10, 2008 2:20 PM:

" Hey Watch Dog Fred...you have so many grand ideas why don't you run for County Supervisor? Or City Counsel?
You don't know how much I wish I could, but for health reasons I cannot take you up on that offer. But that doesn't mean I can't make suggestions and root from the sidelines for someone with conviction to straighten this mess out. One election is not going to solve the problems, it is gonna take at least one more before we clean out the rats nest. We need the deciding vote on that council, we need it desperately. For now all we can do is hope if someone with backbone and determination is elected at least one other existing member will back their play. if we get that then we keep that member next go around and replace the other two spineless fools. Before you know it we have a working productive forward thinking council running this town again. A council that may first look at the qualifications of the City Manager/City Attorney and make a judgement call. "

" First question to ask is do they work for us or do we work for them? Simple and to the point, Jordan has worked under Mestas before, maybe Mestas needs to work under Jordan, I don't know how it should fall.
W.O.W. wrote on Jul 5, 2008 10:07 PM:

" To: Watchdog Fred

First of all to join the agencies you'd have to breakdown the "fiefdoms" that are in place by the "kings and queens" of our beaucracries. Nothing more or less.

Forget it!!! "
But if I had to make the decision, I bet I could make it without looking back. "

" Intersted party wrote on Jul 4, 2008 6:45 AM:
You guys really amaze me, how many Police agencies has the Sheriff's Department replaced in cities throughout the state. The city of Indio no longer has a police department. But they have a county jail and Sheriffs Officers that patrol their community, city and county limits. They've done so with better success than the Indio Police Department they replaced, ever did. So don't think it can't be done. The city of Victorville does not have a police department the San Bernardino County Sheriff's patrol that area as well. Quite effectively, they and the highway patrol make major drug busts by combining forces on I-15. So don't ever think it can't be done. Nor that it never will be done. I've tried to give you some things to think about and hope you will look at this with a clearer view of what is and isn't possible in combining law enforcement agencies. Who's to say Lemoore and Corcoran don't become a part of that too! A few Sherrif sub stations anything is possible, we do it in Avenal and Kettleman City. "

" Intersted party wrote on Jul 4, 2008 6:45 AM:
I think people need to realize it was not that long ago that Laton had a Constable who enforced the laws in that community. "