SOCIAL MEDIA was again discussed at the Sierra County Board of Supervisor’s meeting in Downieville on Tuesday, August 4th.
Sierra County Sheriff’s Department was asking to use Facebook as a law enforcement tool. Information Systems Manager, Laura Marshall stated the $199.00 per month was for a company called Social Archive, which protects from any future litigation holds. She said this Facebook page would be an information page only, adding there would be no commenting. Supervisor Lee Adams said he appreciated it being a one-sided information page, but didn't see why they needed to go into this arena when four of the six neighboring counties aren’t doing it. Sheriff Tim Standley stated this page would conform to Lexipol’s scrutiny and 71% of people who have internet access were on Facebook. He said this is a very close knit community and it is not uncommon for someone to drop off a lost dog. Sheriff Standley stated the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t have the resources to deal with dogs, but thought it would be nice to take a photo of a lost dog and put on Facebook. He added it would also be worthwhile for winter road closures and summertime road construction areas. Standley felt Sierra County was ready to come up into modern times and stressed this was a way for the Sheriff’s department to provide a service to the community.
Supervisor Scott Schlefstein felt very strongly about this service and made the motion to approve the use of a social media page. Adams worried how much time will go into providing this service and stated that today he was not sold though he might change his mind in the future. Supervisor Paul Roen was happy to hear it was an information page only. Assistant County Counsel Rhetta Vander Ploeg said her concerns were alleviated with the Facebook page being a one-way street. Adams stated with County Counsel’s comments he was apt to approve this for a small amount of time to see how it goes. Adams added he would like to limit social media to the Sheriff’s Department only and if someone else wants to join then they need to come before the Board. Schlefstein said he would amend his motion to cover this.
With that the motion passed unanimously.
Sierra County Sheriff’s Department was asking to use Facebook as a law enforcement tool. Information Systems Manager, Laura Marshall stated the $199.00 per month was for a company called Social Archive, which protects from any future litigation holds. She said this Facebook page would be an information page only, adding there would be no commenting. Supervisor Lee Adams said he appreciated it being a one-sided information page, but didn't see why they needed to go into this arena when four of the six neighboring counties aren’t doing it. Sheriff Tim Standley stated this page would conform to Lexipol’s scrutiny and 71% of people who have internet access were on Facebook. He said this is a very close knit community and it is not uncommon for someone to drop off a lost dog. Sheriff Standley stated the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t have the resources to deal with dogs, but thought it would be nice to take a photo of a lost dog and put on Facebook. He added it would also be worthwhile for winter road closures and summertime road construction areas. Standley felt Sierra County was ready to come up into modern times and stressed this was a way for the Sheriff’s department to provide a service to the community.
Supervisor Scott Schlefstein felt very strongly about this service and made the motion to approve the use of a social media page. Adams worried how much time will go into providing this service and stated that today he was not sold though he might change his mind in the future. Supervisor Paul Roen was happy to hear it was an information page only. Assistant County Counsel Rhetta Vander Ploeg said her concerns were alleviated with the Facebook page being a one-way street. Adams stated with County Counsel’s comments he was apt to approve this for a small amount of time to see how it goes. Adams added he would like to limit social media to the Sheriff’s Department only and if someone else wants to join then they need to come before the Board. Schlefstein said he would amend his motion to cover this.
With that the motion passed unanimously.
