Published: April 22, 2008 10:38 am            

County official files petition to restrain Soboroff’s actions

CLINTON — Clinton County Attorney Mike Wolf announced during the Clinton County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday that he has filed a petition in District Court seeking an injunction against a Calamus man accused of harassing county offices.

Jeffrey A. Soboroff, 57, is accused of repeatedly calling Clinton County offices, including the county attorney, auditor, board of supervisors, communications and sheriff’s department, causing “workplace disruption and loss of productivity.” The petition asks the court to restrain Soboroff from further harassment by making unnecessary and multiple phone calls to any of the offices.

Included in the filing are several affidavits from county officials and employees testifying to the nature and frequency of the calls from Soboroff, stating the calls have nothing to do with county business and are unnecessary, deeming the calls “a waste of county time and money.”

In February, Soboroff was found not guilty of first-degree harassment following an incident in August. On April 3, Soboroff was convicted of making threats to poison the city of Calamus’ water supply and was placed on five years probation.

Charges including three counts of harassment in the third degree and one count of extortion were brought against Soboroff following incidents occurring while he was on trial for the threats charge on March 10. Soboroff has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial conference on those charges is scheduled for Thursday.

Wolf said a hearing on the petition has been set for 8:30 a.m. May 1. He would not comment if criminal charges may be pending. Wolf stated he is attempting to resolve the matter in civil court rather than criminal court.

Regarding the denial of mental health funds and services for a Clinton County resident, Supervisor Jill Davisson stated she had a hard time considering the issue because she knows the individual. She said she wants to help the individual, but realizes Clinton County Mental Health Coordinator Becky Eskildsen has “done her homework” on the case. Supervisor Dennis Starling added that he also was concerned about the matter, stating that the overshadowing issue is an existing need.

Eskildsen said the individual resides in both Iowa and Illinois, but no permanent place of residence has been established. She said the decision to deny services was not easy or pleasant. After the board approved a motion to uphold Eskildsen’s decision and deny the client’s appeal by a vote of 2 to 1 with Starling voting no, Eskildsen said the decision could be appealed to District Court.

Later in the agenda, the board approved a funding allocation agreement for the purchase of 31 Automark ballot marking devices.

The new optical scan voting systems are required after Senate File 2347 was enacted into law on April 1. The cost of $4,950 each, totaling $153,450, will be paid directly to the company by the Iowa Secretary of State. County Auditor Charlie Sheridan said the machines will replace the iVotronic equipment purchased at a similar cost in 2006. Those machines will be returned to ES&S at county expense. Davisson said the state and federal government need to “get their act together,” because taxpayers are paying for new voting machines when new equipment was purchased just two years ago.

Finally, Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln displayed one of the new TASER X26 devices recently purchased by the county. Lincoln said 15 units were purchased, with 12 going to patrol deputies, one to the supervisor, one unit for the jail and one unit for the courthouse. He said two $400 TASER cameras were purchased for the units to be used in the jail and courthouse, which record video and audio when the safety is turned off. A download kit was purchased so deputies can view information including when and how long the unit is discharged.

Lincoln said the equipment cost more than $15,000 but a U.S. Department of Justice grant in the amount of $8,776.50 paid for more than half of the purchase. He added that a policy for use of the TASERs will be developed. Lincoln said the TASERs are a good tool for law enforcement as a “less than lethal” device.

        

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