By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Over the past five years, the Sheriff’s Office,
under leadership of Juab County Sheriff David Carter, has
received approximately $500,000 in extra funding through
grants and contracts.
“Last week we were awarded a block grant through the
federal government for $7,363.80 to purchase spikes to be
placed in all our vehicles and to buy bullet-proof vests for
use by our deputies,” said Carter.
Carter said the road spikes will be used to place in
roadways to stop those fleeing from deputies. “Their
use will help cut short high speed chases and will enhance
public safety.”
The remaining money in the grant, after purchases are
made, can be used for overtime for law enforcement officers
in the sheriff’s office.
The last week of October, said Carter, he received word
that his office’s application had been approved to
receive equipment valued at between $5,000 and $8,000. The
grant came from state alcohol enforcement money.
“We received one portable camera and enough portable
intoxilizers to place in all our law enforcement
vehicles,” said Carter.
Carter said the grants received over the past five years
had amounted to more than $400,000. “This represents
extra money the county has received which has provided
needed money at no extra cost to our taxpayers.”
A three-year grant for $75,000 from the Cops Fast Grant
was received to fund the hiring of another deputy for
Eureka. Carter said Tony Laird was hired as that deputy.
“The grant was for a three-year period,” said
Carter. “It was important to have another officer in
that area. One lone officer, located more than 40 minutes
from Nephi, was not good because there was no back-up in
critical situations.”
A federal grant to be used for a multi-jurisdictional
task force was received jointly by Nephi City Police and the
Juab County Sheriff’s Office, said Carter. The grant
was worth $72,700.
The task force, with the co-partners of Nephi City Police
and Juab County Sheriff’s Office, was formed to cut
down on illegal drug activities in the area. One officer was
hired to work specifically for the task force.
Carter, who has been sheriff for the past 19 years, said
he had worked to increase the contract he has with the
Bureau of Land Management to pay for law enforcement at the
Little Sahara Sand Dunes.
“When I began as sheriff, the Law Enforcement
Contract my office had with BLM was for $5,000 and now it is
for $50,000,” said Carter.
Up until this last contract, formed this year, the
sheriff’s office had received $20,000. “I worked
for the $30,000 increase this year,” said Carter,
“to help pay for one deputy to work at the Sand
Dunes.”
Although Carter rotates all officers through duty at the
Sand Dunes, the money paid for one more deputy to be hired
and equipped.
Before the new deputy was hired, he said, the
sheriff’s office was short-handed in taking care of the
influx of camping enthusiasts who make the county a weekend
playground. Carter said on holidays, and many weekends,
visitors reached the 40,000 mark.
“About three weeks ago,” said Carter, “we
put in for and received $8,700 in unclaimed property from
the state.”
The money was for two stale checks which had gone astray
in the system between the state and his office, said Carter.
When he found out about the unclaimed property, he applied
to receive it and the money was sent to his office.
A resident had called to alert him to the fact that the
funds were listed in the unclaimed state property notice, he
said. However, Carter had found out about the money prior to
the call and had already contacted the state.
Carter said his office had also received $24,220 extra
this year for holding probation prisoners at the county
jail. Over the past five years, the sheriff’s office
had received extra money each year for a total of more than
$130,000.
The money is distributed by the state on the basis of
population.
“Each year there are some counties which do not use
all the money they are given on the per capita basis, and
each year we go way over on the money we have coming,”
said Carter. “That is because Juab County holds more
probationary prisoners per capita.”
“After I applied for the extra funds,” said
Carter, “we have received money each year. The first
year I applied we received $49,000.”
Carter said he had Deputy Terrance Parkin working to
receive a grant for holding illegal aliens for criminal
activity that it was determined the county should try for
funds from the Immigration Naturalization Services
(INS).
“We received money from the Criminal Alien
Assistance Program as a result,” said Carter.
Just recently, the sheriff’s office received money
from the program for the years 1997 through 1999. “We
were granted $29,478 for 1997, $29,521 for 1998, and $28,523
for 1999.”
In all, the program paid the county $87,522 for the last
three years to help with the costs of jailing and holding
illegal aliens engaged in illegal activity within Juab
County.
Back
|
