01-22-1986 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Hunt November 27, 1985 Page Three 6) January 18, 1984 - The preliminary study was com- pleted and submitted on January 5, 1984, and on this referenced date was reviewed at a general member- ship meeting of the Ramsey Conty League of Local Gov- ernments. It was rather unenthusiastically received. To the best of our knowledge, the January 18th meeting re- presents the last official activity relative to the ques- tion of suburban consolidation. However, the Court and its administrators remain firmly supportive of the proposed le- gislative changes to reduce the number of suburban court locations. As for the various factors impelling the Municipal Court, and others, towards their position on consolidation, there have been numerous studies conducted previously which suc- cinctly delineate the persuasive arguments. Any or all of these complete reports can be provided upon request. In sum- mary, a consolidated suburban court system would permit much more efficient scheduling of cases and a more effective use of available Judge time, would considerably simplify several complicated major procedures, i.e.: Statistics and record - keeping, revenue accounting and budgeting, etc., and would enable much more effective management control of clerical and other support operations. Additionally, there are a number of areas in which a signi- ficant financial savings would be realized as a direct re- sult of any reduction in the number of suburban facilities, for example: 1) Currently, in the suburbs, we maintain five separ- ate telephone systems, with several instruments and multiple lines in each locale. 2) We maintain five complete sets of law books, in- cluding yearly additions and update materials. Fur- ther, we annually purchase five sets of operational reference books, such as Bar Association attorney guides, Court Rules and Procedures manuals, etc.. 3) We purchased, and now maintain, Xerox machines in four of our five locations, and use one in the fifth on a pay-per -usage basis. 4) By Christmastime we will have electronic cash regis- ters in three of our locations, and a fourth will be so equipped in January. One is also planned for our fifth location, and has not been ordered solely be- cause, as yet, there is not sufficient space within which to place such a machine. When the space problem is resolved, all our suburbs will be so equipped. NOTE: On the subject of automation, while no plans are in any way under consideration at this time, it would seem inevitable that sooner or later we will 3 2.