ADMINISTRATION - Jon Haukaas, Director of Public Works
Title
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR A FOUR DAY PER WEEK INSTITUTION COMMUNITY WORK CREW IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,250.00 PER YEAR
Background
The City has had a contract with the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) since the fall of 2018 for a work crew to perform various labor intensive work throughout the city.
The DOC has offered a two year contract to continue this partnership with the City. We have experienced excellent service and received significant benefit from this contract. The new contract price reflects a 6% increase that is locked in for the two year period. Staff recommends approving the new extended contract.
As a refresher; the State of Minnesota, acting through its Commissioner of Correction offers Institution Community Work Crews (ICWC) to cities to provide labor for local efforts at the purchaser’s discretion. The ICWC Program’s structure and philosophy were modeled after the Minnesota Department of Corrections’ (DOC) Sentencing to Service (STS) program, which had already established an excellent track record of working in the community. Carefully selected, non-dangerous, minimum-security inmates work on crews under the supervision of a qualified DOC crew leader. The program goal is to teach social and work skills while communities accomplish projects.
This new contract will provide the City of Blaine with an ICWC crew on Mondays through Thursdays (four days per week) for 52 weeks from November 1, 2019 through October 31, 2021. The total expense to the City for all compensation and reimbursements to the State under this contract is $93,250.00 per year as our share of the cost of providing a crew leader and placing the work crews into service on the ICWC Program during the term of this agreement. The City may request additional time at an overtime rate of $75.00 per hour for the entire crew. Funding for this has been included in the 2020 budget and is split between the general fund and utility funds based on anticipated utilization.
Recommendation
By motion, authorize the Mayor and City Manager to contract with the State of Minnesota for an Institution Community Work Crew in the amount of $93,250.00 per year for two years.