b. Grant appl--Brownfields Prgm - Laserfiche WebLink

PROJECT PERIOD AND BUDGET The Cass County Board of Commissioners has voted to demolish the old jail and sheriff's residence. Following the environmental assessment, the Board would be in a position to solicit bids for demolition of the propedies. The projected budget for demolition will be approximately $220,000.00, with additional costs for re-locating the necessary Coudhouse equipment mentioned earlier and any required environmental abatement. The cost of the abatement survey is $5,910. Costs for the new structure would be approximately $9 million, however, the design has not yet been finalized. The county would like to move forward when the environmental assessment is completed. ASSURANCE OF FUTURE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE This new building addition would be owned by Cass County Government, with Courtroom space leased to the City of Fargo and provided by law to the State District Court. It would be unique to North Dakota in that the citizens of Cass County and Fargo would have a single point of service for all court hearings/trials. There would be no need to continue to duplicate a secure parking and holding area for prisoners at multiple locations as we have now. Criminals would be moved securely through the new building without mixing with the general public, as they do now. This would significantly enhance the safety and security of the staff that work in this se[ting and the ordinary citizens who conduct business here. The rest of the Courthouse would be used for civil proceedings. There has been a great deal of discussions between the City or Fargo and Cass County about this proposed project. Both boards have adopted resolutions supporting the concepts. Construction funds would come from Cass County, with rents being paid for city space by Fargo. BENEFITS The benefits of a combined city/county criminal courts addition will help both government and the citizens because services are combined. Since security does not have to be duplicated, the taxpayer is the big winner. This building would take city and county government a long way into the future....perhaps several decades, or beyond. At the same time, the old jail, with its abatement of enviranmentally regulated materials, will be removed. Raw sewage will no longer reside in the plumbing chases, the risk of disease and infection of those officers using the old facility will be mitigated. Two officers have had reported cases of Hepatitis B. The building does not meet the anticipated future needs of Cass County, and it is hoped these grant funds may be made available as quickly as possible to assist Cass County and its taxpayers in the removal of these structures. Approved: Alon Wieland, Chairman Cass County Board of Commissioners M:/MINUTES/Comrn2002/GRANT-BROWNFIELD 11-4,doc