[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6642605,"mediaKeyId","2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1","parentId",2540752,"title","Sheriff's office seeks 3-year amendment with IC Solutions; committee hears concerns over 15‑minute video blocks and funding","audioSeconds",1749,"startMs",504000,"endMs",2253000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1&start=504&end=2253","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1/thumbnail_504000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6642605/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Sheriffs-office-seeks-3-year-amendment-with-IC-Solutions-committee-hears-concerns-over-15minute-video-blocks-and-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642605-1e2110350fbd72d548f6e0e07da90422/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437829&Signature=iYOTv5TBfn5TQk4RQCShJn6qV7yPzEWS00d-i4XjPLnTkwpZ5RgrlK6RjehXuoCHWt42as1v4Rn9qnVoJDMu-Lbifcvv~Jgo7ATnnEAyh4nTSuyoKQ4fjPBTlHI8z1ppjTaZssB6pbxVwfQ3eiNKhX3rZh3~3kb4wNoCG5frwhUiyMUhSgUFrsoQEu2Kc5hvPJoISxyhEScmty2cg7TZxEYi8Hmb7A3uEx8NAqIWxWt21phwcBqIWJNx-fqbpyBNk9UsU~wjjhfrKixghF9KDWPZchBZcwOWj6ZyC1KrDDybOJANEkx3~SGh3TjPuvHkOJ28POnw3T5bmDleB3qZig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milwaukee County","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office asked the committee to note a proposed three‑year amendment with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC (IC Solutions) to provide phone and video calling services at the Milwaukee County Jail and the Community Reintegration Center for the period March 29, 2025, through March 28, 2028.

Director Joshua Briggs told the committee the amendment responds to a July 28 Federal Communications Commission ruling that set rate caps for calling: 6¢ per minute for phone calls and 11¢ per minute for video visitation. Briggs said the county’s 2024 adopted budget eliminated commissions from phone and video revenue and that the executive proposed a program to provide free minutes. Under the amendment presented, the county would provide up to 90 free minutes of phone calls and 15 free minutes of video visitation per week per person in custody. Briggs said the amendment includes funding to reimburse one deputy sheriff position to provide on‑site administration for the communications system; the fiscal amount for that position was stated in committee as roughly $100,000.

Briggs said the county does not expect to receive commission revenue under the amendment; the agreement provides a fee‑for‑service structure under which IC Solutions would receive the capped per‑minute payments from callers after the free allotment is used. He said the county’s fiscal 2024 budget had already removed prior commissions and that the amendment itself has no additional base contract fee.

Committee members pressed several operational and policy questions. Supervisor Logsdon asked whether the change would require extra work from correctional officers; Briggs said he did not expect a change to officer labor but acknowledged the lower rates and free minutes could increase call volume. Chair Balinski and other supervisors questioned why the county would rely on an outside vendor rather than internal VoIP or existing county platforms and asked whether monitoring could be provided in‑house. Briggs responded that the vendor solution is set up to provide required monitoring functions and operational oversight of calls and visitation booths.

Several supervisors raised concerns about the amendment’s switch from a monthly allocation to weekly blocks, and whether breaking video visitation into 15‑minute blocks would disadvantage people who plan for longer, single sessions with family. Briggs said county staff adopted weekly blocks because of implementation complexity: people are booked into custody at varying times, and weekly allotments were easier to administer so that a person coming in late in the month would not require prorated monthly minutes. Briggs also said the free minutes do not roll over week to week.

A public commenter, Ron Jansen, urged the committee to oppose the change when it reaches finance, saying the county had previously approved 60‑minute video blocks and that converting them to 15‑minute segments risks undermining the spirit of that action. Jansen also argued the change could benefit private vendors and recalled earlier proposals discussed in which a nonprofit would have provided unlimited free calling and left equipment to the county. Supervisor Johnson Jr. urged members on the finance committee to scrutinize the amendment and any fiscal impacts when the file is considered by finance.

Deputy corporation counsel Karen Tidwell said the corporation counsel’s office would continue to monitor federal changes and examine whether the FCC rules specify minute‑block requirements; she offered to review the amendment’s contractual and operational details and report back to the committee.

Committee members were reminded the item was before this committee for informational purposes only; finance will take formal action on the contract. No final contract vote was taken by the committee during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Milwaukee County - Committee on Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services on 2025-03-11 9:00 AM - HYBRID MEETINGThis meeting will be held in Room 203-R, and will be live-streamed on the County Legislative Information Center: https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calen - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office presented a proposed three‑year amendment with Inmate Calling Solutions LLC to provide phone and video services at county correctional facilities under new FCC rate caps and proposed an allotment of up to 90 free phone minutes and 15 free video minutes per week.","taxTitle","Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",2736,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642610,"Committee recommends confirmation of Ed Scarro and Clifton Phelps to county boards",457,76000,533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1&start=76&end=533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6642610/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Committee-recommends-confirmation-of-Ed-Scarro-and-Clifton-Phelps-to-county-boards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642610-58fa6d00c4dfe660bce070ceab3ecd85/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437829&Signature=NMnO-6tXm4k3fPPFz7re5xCjk1~KhBIH-JDu31hIWFy8nLXPo5X71Kxnv2bowbK662-~aZoIIx-lt3unkVMxzThSSNFI5CVssjsjAgASE3tC0W3DSBHCCv7kp7lNeYpjbDfhvKuBD6YAs3ihrXQcsNB2pVeMinyDQVYdaGJ1-SHBQWoKDkwsLf5IFnm-9~iLEYN7XDx0w6RU5RcKwBQ-21SlDUy9vn5euZsiP5NY0pxmVgwmEVh9Do~7nyZKxZ0SMLED~VKHjjtTY-4xky-1dK-s6imVu4B9tYXJsFQyoUFs3ojfUJ7cc15YNWW6HemPuwgOK9GP87IPqxuhKSYMaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Milwaukee County committee on judiciary, law enforcement and general services on a voice vote recommended confirmation of Ed Scarro to the county Local Emergency Planning Committee and Clifton Phelps to the Milwaukee County Ethics Board.

Both appointments were recommended by a motion from Supervisor Johnson Jr. and carried with a 5-0 tally recorded by the committee. The committee's action was a recommendation for confirmation; the items were presented as appointments from the county executive.

Ed Scarro described more than three decades of experience in environmental work focused on solid waste and the recycling industry and said he holds a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Scarro told the committee he currently works at ATI Forged Products and described experience with an industrial acid-etching process that includes hydrofluoric and nitric acid. Committee members asked whether Scarro lives in Milwaukee County; he said he resides in Elkhorn, in Walworth County, and said the commute to committee meetings would not be an issue.

Clifton Phelps introduced himself as a business-development professional with about 15 years’ experience in construction and business development, a master’s in public policy and active service on nonprofit boards in the city of Milwaukee. The appointment notice states Phelps’ term on the Ethics Board would expire on 2022-03-20[not specified in record]; the committee was presented a resume and appointment letter from the county executive.

Committee members thanked both candidates for volunteering and moved to recommend confirmation. The motion to recommend confirmation for each candidate carried on a recorded voice count of five ayes and zero noes.

The committee did not debate policy changes or amendments related to either appointment during the session; both items were handled as routine confirmations and moved forward as recommendations to the county board process.","A Milwaukee County committee voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of Ed Scarro to the Local Emergency Planning Committee and Clifton Phelps to the County Ethics Board after brief introductions and questions about residency and priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642600,"Corporation counsel reports Wellpath bankruptcy stay; litigation over release of a former deputy’s records continues",800,2300000,3100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1&start=2300&end=3100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2540752-29d54f1da4401e62a434a17f0ff667c1/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","/articles/6642600/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Corporation-counsel-reports-Wellpath-bankruptcy-stay-litigation-over-release-of-a-former-deputys-records-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642600-433c1188e134c6179b67233668e48d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437829&Signature=dYkakoghtCBz8BEidmXYX8OqS6EbCr6zjA5obw5n2PbgD18ANhC1SphCfPFvs9ke00j7pswH1Cw6ZzHLhIQNxdbX0gYaqN0Ps-20yo2U3pSjWXGjYmOpACvnbWQ9R66IeZtxuuifKczljajgz8KJsWuDCiJA71jEt~Q3sSZp3knOFydvIQM9ytu04p7pRyZ1wnP6csM3Mn4NEkLrxoWe8CPUCPsqOLu81EgiPxrBh24~UIkRD1uYB1dehtob6PbodGchsum5eQj0wn66Ww0-oFqZTb5o8ISH1~u-9OEVdBdCZryd9WOw8E2MHQJOlVitVf3yr2v68qTdikPA6vGxRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy corporation counsel Karen Tidwell briefed the committee on pending litigation involving Milwaukee County and contractors. Tidwell said the Wellpath bankruptcy continues and a stay remains in place through April 30; she warned the reorganization timeline could extend beyond that date. The stay pauses many cases in which Wellpath is a party.

Tidwell also discussed litigation filed by former Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office deputy John Nelson. The county notified Nelson that certain internal affairs and disciplinary records were subject to public release under Wisconsin’s open records law; Nelson filed suit seeking to prevent disclosure. Tidwell told the committee one of the cases listed as item 63 was dismissed by Nelson without an apparent reason, while two other listed matters (items 65 and 66) remain pending and are being litigated. She said the county previously determined the records were disclosable and that Nelson filed his challenge after being notified of the county’s intent to release documents.

Supervisor Logsdon said constituents had raised concerns about a November 19 news article reporting the mayor of Franklin had sought to block records release; Tidwell said the corporation counsel’s office would continue to monitor the litigation and report back to the committee when there are developments. Tidwell added that while the corporation counsel had not examined every nuance of the specific records, the office would review the matters in more detail and provide an update to the committee.

A committee member asked whether the bankruptcy stay or litigation would affect current contracts; Tidwell said the Wellpath contract for services has continued to operate and there was no current indication of termination, although litigation in which Wellpath is co‑defendant is stayed while the bankruptcy is active.

The committee discussed whether to move into closed session for detailed legal analysis; members were reminded that closed session requires a stated reason and that, per usual practice, corporation counsel would advise whether specific questions needed to be taken up in closed session.

No settlement payments were announced on the current cycle; Tidwell said a few settlements were expected to appear on a future cycle and offered to provide more detail in subsequent reports.","Deputy corporation counsel reported the Wellpath bankruptcy stay remains in place and that litigation by former deputy John Nelson seeking to block release of internal affairs and disciplinary records is ongoing; one case was dismissed by the plaintiff while others remain pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sheriff's office seeks 3-year amendment with IC Solutions; committee hears concerns over 15‑minute video blocks and funding

Committee recommends confirmation of Ed Scarro and Clifton Phelps to county boards

Corporation counsel reports Wellpath bankruptcy stay; litigation over release of a former deputy’s records continues