Documented by Kristina Mansfield
What happened: At their Dec. 12 meeting, Madera County Supervisors voted 5-0 to enter into an agreement with LensLock Inc., to outfit sheriff’s deputies with in-car and body cams.
The county will enter into a five-year contract with LensLock at a cost of $107,275. Deputies have had body cams since 2017. Police body cameras are generally thought to improve public safety officers’ accountability and lower reports of police misconduct. Body cameras provide both visual and audio evidence that can be used to independently verify events and have been used in court.
Supervisors also unanimously approved an agreement with Chowchilla Subbasin Growers to establish a domestic well mitigation program for a portion of the Chowchilla Subbasin in the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA).
Well mitigation is used to proactively monitor and protect drinking water wells and lessen the impact of groundwater overdraft due to drought conditions.
The board also voted to develop a working relationship between the Madera County GSA and the Chowchilla Subbasin Growers.
And also: Supervisors also voted 5-0 to adopt a resolution approving a cash-flow loan for a transit fund in the amount of $1.2 million to pay for six new buses. Three of the buses are conventional gas buses and three are electric. Deputy Director Public Works Andrea Saldate told supervisors the road fund “struggles,” and the loan will help bridge a gap between purchase request, payment and reimbursement received from state and federal agencies.
Up next: Madera County supervisors’ next meeting is slated for Jan. 9.
