10-18-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-October 18, 2004 2808 14. JAIL UPDATE Glenn Ellingsberg, Cass County Jail Administrator, was present to update the board on what has transpired since last February when the topic was introduced on proposed expansion of the Cass County jail. At that time, Mr. Ellingsberg and County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson were asked to review programming opportunities and to discuss building issues related to expansion. Mr. Ellingsberg provided information on the average daily inmate population, indicating they are at 80% occupancy which makes it more difficult to classify the inmates. Mrs. Johnson prepared a PowerPoint presentation on topics including building efficiencies/ideas for improvement, project management and budget limitations. She said the new Cass County jail was built at a cost of $18 million, and extra sales tax revenue was generated with the idea that expansion pods would be built as future growth necessitated. Main housing pods, she said, were bid as alternates to the original jail package; and she is concerned about the compatibility of heating and cooling systems and the security equipment if alternate bids cannot be used. Mr. Ellingsberg said the state's attorney is reviewing statutes to determine if the alternate bids received during the initial bid letting can be used for the expansion pods. The board asked when video arraignments will begin because it will save on transportation costs and will move inmates through the facility faster. Mr. Ellingsberg said he needs cooperation from the courts and assistance from the state's attorney on developing a waiver of sentencing form. The equipment for interactive video arraignments has been in place and ready to be used. With the proposed construction of expansion pods, Mr. Ellingsberg said he recommends building to meet the needs of a growing Cass County, and he would not recommend any additional contract with other agencies for bed space. The federal government paid $250,000 towards construction of the new Cass County jail, and they have a contract for 10 beds. They are currently paying a daily boarding rate of $50 per inmate; however, a couple of years ago, Mr. Wagner said the county approved a daily rate of $60 per inmate. Mr. Ellingsberg said he has not received a revised contract from the federal government at the new rate. Mr. Vanyo asked about a timeframe for the expansion pods, and Mr. Ellingsberg said if specifications could be prepared quickly, groundbreaking would take place in 2005 with inmate occupancy sometime in 2006. Answers would still be needed from the state's attorney on what the State law allows as far as bid requirements. With the talk of future expansion, Mr. Bennett suggested building the facility as maintenance free as possible, that labor costs in the future be kept at a minimum, and to begin discussing the possible need to increase the size of the jail site. Mr. Bennett also suggested support for programs that would reduce the need to incarcerate people. Mr. Burdick said he met last week with Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Ellingsberg about what might be required on contracts; and he has since visited with the attorney general and other state officials about using the bids received when the jail was initially constructed. More inquiry is needed before he would be ready to make a recommendation on the question of using the previous alternate bids for pod expansion.