This story has so far flown under the radar of many local residents because of the article's title. While it may appear at first glance off-topic, please read it through to the end. You will also find the public comments enlightening if you click on the link and read the online version of the artilce.

Commissioners approve jail repairs

September 15, 2008 - 11:42PM
Robert Boyer / Times-News

The board of commissioners unanimously approved nearly $222,000 in repairs to the oldest portion of the Alamance County jail.

The money will pay for what is known as a "control system," a network of cameras, locking systems, intercoms and computer panels for a "satellite" room to monitor the east portion of the jail. This oldest section of the jail was built in 1985 and can house 156 inmates, said detention Maj. Coley Rich.

The state's chief inspector, Rich said, had threatened to close down this part of the jail if the county failed to add more jailers or replace or repair the current equipment, which the major called "antiquated."

Electrical fires and jail doors opening on their own were among the problems Rich detailed.

He asked the commissioners to declare the jail an emergency so the county could accept a bid from Fleischer Industrial Controls, Inc. of Elon to do the work without having to seek bids. "We're either going to have to close down or repair this very fast," Rich said.

The board's approval came after two board members sparred with representatives of a local anti-287(g) group who renewed questions they posed about a month before.

About 15 members of the unnamed group attended a vigil before the meeting. Several spoke to commissioners, asking them to answer questions first asked during an Aug. 18 meeting about oversight for 287(g), the federal-local illegal immigration enforcement partnership in place at the Alamance County Sheriff's Department.

On Aug. 18, group members questioned whether county officials had set up a steering committee and complaint mechanism for 287(g). The sheriff later responded that a group of his jail employees were part of the oversight committee.

Laura Roselle, an Elon political science professor and mother who lives Burlington, was among those on Monday who asked commissioners to respond to their earlier questions about 287(g). She also wanted to know why the commissioners had responded nearly a month later and why some commissioners plan to attend "a partisan meeting outside the county orchestrated by people who are not interested in factual ideas with which they disagree."

Roselle said the forum organization, which she later identified as FAIR, or the Federation for American Immigration Reform, is divisive and, at times, "associated with what I consider to be a hate group."

Roselle said she values diversity, which she said "increases innovation, it increases economic opportunities, it expands our minds to new ideas and it pushes us to be open, thoughtful and kind.

"And we want commissioners who are willing to listen with open minds to differences of opinions about whether or not we should be involved in a federal program that has had serious and damaging consequences in our county," she added. "And we would like our questions answered."

Her comments and those of other group members brought stern words from Commissioners Bill Lashley and Tim Sutton, staunch 287(g) supporters.

"Tell us what the damage is? Do you people not expect us to abide by the law? What laws do you want us to enforce?" Lashley asked.
Roselle objected to what she called Lashley's "confrontational tone."

"I'm just asking you a question. I don't need a education."

Roselle asked to be "treated with respect" as a county resident.

"I am treating you with respect. You come down here and ask us questions, and all those questions have been answered by the news media from people here with different ideas," Lashley replied. "Apparently you haven't read the paper."

Roselle renewed her call for an official response from the board and said 287(g) has divided the community.

Felix Pulido asked about the fate of property of those deported and 287(g) detainees. There are at least seven cases, he said, where locals have had difficulty reclaiming property.

Commissioner Dan Ingle said those with such concerns need to substantiate such claims and bring them forward to Sheriff Terry Johnson. "When there are generalities made rather than specifics at the times, that makes it really tough," Ingle said. "And if you have complaints, please go to the sheriff ... He'll take those complaints.

Elon Assistant Professor Brian Nienhaus took issue with that assessment, calling "287(g) a relatively new and complicated program.
"There's a lot of uncertainty that surrounds this program. I think it would be a good idea to cut some citizens some slack as they ask questions that are sometimes exploratory," he continued.

Nienhaus said the issue is "sufficient important" enough to "deserve better communication," and asked if there was a way for questioners to submit questions via e-mail and receive responses.

Nienhaus, a business professor, said his research showed that Hispanics have a major economic impact on the county's housing market, which he said doubled from 1990 to 2000.

Taking Hispanics from the county through 287(g) will hurt the county's property values worse than the recent mortgage crisis, he said.

Nienhaus said Sheriff Terry Johnson and "many of the commissioners said, that ‘We have to enforce the law, we can't make exceptions.' Well, from my perspective, what this local police agency has done is chosen immigration for special attention and special training, when the real things that are hurting us are being cast aside."
http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/county ... _jail.html

Here are some lead-in articles related to this ongoing dispute between the supporters of illegal aliens who oppose 287g, and their County Commissioners.

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/johnso ... eriff.html

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/own_16 ... ords_.html

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/rules_ ... riff_.html

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/johnso ... ation.html

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/sutton ... slComments

http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/co ... _hill.html