Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

JPs Approve Budget For Defenders; Hear Report On Sirens

Budgets have been worked out between Hempstead and Nevada Counties for indigent defense.

Nevada County JPs met in regular session Monday, March 9, and approved the budget for which it is responsible for one-third.

JPs learned Hempstead County will be the paying county for the office which has been formed into the new 8th Judicial District north.

Nevada County will receive monthly statements from Hempstead County according to Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown.

These statements will reflect expenses incurred by indigent defense attorneys Marsha Basinger and Danny Rodgers.

Nevada County's portion of the budget will be $5,940 for the remainder of the 1998. A copy machine for the office has already been purchase by officials.

JPs approved a $520,000 budget for Nevada County's first countywide early warning system.

Brown informed JPs 38 sirens will be placed in the county at locations where electricity already exists, while two units powered by the sun will be installed. All units will have battery backups.

Brown told JPs the county is fortunate to be able to place the systems at churches, businesses, city halls and fire departments throughout the county.

The sirens will be divided into three sections comprised from the north, central and south parts of the county.

Brown told JPs the sirens will radio controlled by the Nevada County Sheriff's office and not the Office of Emergency Services (OES) or the Nevada County Rescue Unit.

Work on the systems should be completed by the next monthly meeting, April 13.