JUVENILE OPERATIONS MAY CHANGE

JACKSON - A recent survey of juvenile departments in other second-class counties and some first-class counties by Cape Girardeau County Auditor Weldon Macke is leading the county commission to consider some changes in the operation of its juvenile office.

After learning that most counties with populations larger than Cape County had their juvenile administrative offices in a different building from the detention center, the commission decided to move administrative offices to the Common Pleas Annex as part of a shift of several offices in the county.

By making the move, the commission avoided the need to expand the size of the juvenile detention center on Merriwether Street. Offices will be shifted later this year or early next year.

On Thursday, commissioners advised Chief Juvenile Officer Ruth Waldon that they are considering a change in their policy of providing juvenile officers with cars and allowing them to drive them home in the evening.

In a general discussion with Waldon about the juvenile budget for 1992, Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said, "I will be insisting very strongly that officers not take cars home."

Currently, the juvenile department has six vehicles. The rationale for having officers take cars home at night has been that officers are subject to emergency calls.

"I've never been comfortable with that number of cars going home each night," remarked Huckstep.

The presiding commissioner warned he will also be looking to reduce the number of cars used by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. The sheriff's department has about 12 vehicles, including one car that is assigned to Huckstep.

"Cars are expensive; we've got too many of them," said Huckstep.

Macke said the survey showed that St. Charles County has just one car in the juvenile department; Greene County has no cars; Boone County has three; Cole County has one; and Platte County has none.

In those counties, juvenile officers are reimbursed for mileage for driving their own vehicles. Macke said Platte County's mileage reimbursement will total a maximum of $10,000 this year.

"Based on a lot of bigger counties, we're overloaded with cars," said Macke.

Huckstep said he might support having a car permanently assigned to Waldon and then two cars at the juvenile office that could be used as needed by officers.

Waldon told the commission that much of the juvenile office's mileage comes from officers having to serve legal papers. But she pointed out that in many counties, the sheriff's department serves subpoenas and summonses for the juvenile office.

Waldon said the sheriff's office has indicated it does not have sufficient manpower to do that in Cape Girardeau County.

Huckstep challenged the sheriff's contention and suggested the department might have the manpower to do the job if necessary.

Waldon also pointed out that there would likely be an increased expense for liability insurance if officers used their own cars. She stressed that it is important that the cars be radio equipped in case of problems.

"This is taxpayers' money we're dealing with," said Huckstep. "The days of unlimited funds are over. I don't know if they will return or not, but they're definitely over for now."

Huckstep told Waldon that all department budgets were being closely scrutinized and added, "I can assure you that you will be treated fairly.

"We will address cars in next year's budget and will seek your input before we make a decision. But I will guarantee you the car situation will not be what it has been."

Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander, who oversees the county highway department, said only four county trucks are taken home at night. The highway superintendent and three foremen take trucks home because they are subject to being called out in the case of an emergency, Sander said.