02-18-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

,.... expansion - the existing jail and sheriff's residence site, entirely separate site, or combination of existing building structures with major remodeling efforts. This can only be known by bringing this discussion to a vote within the Commission. Furthermore, contractors historically give better bids when the construction season is slow. Therefore, favorable bids have been received and need to be acted upon soon. Any delay in demolition could cost the county $$$ and another year in meeting the space needs of the county. One cannot continue future expansion discussions with an architect without knowing the available site to be used for construction.. What about the preservation of two buildings important to the history of Fargo and the county? In an ideal world, I think it is safe to say that all of us would like to see older buildings saved; to continue serving the useful purpose for which they were originally constructed or to serve some new purpose while retaining their original character as much as possible. But if providing useable space for the county means completely gutting a building such as the old jail, then what have we gained in terms of preservation? The exterior may be a reminder of the past, but the interior would have no resemblance to the past structure at all. Is this preservation? The old jail cannot be preserved as a jail and serve a useful purpose for the county. Neither can it be mothballed for some future use. There is direct expense associated with even a vacant building and there is also an indirect expense associated with purchasing land elsewhere for expansion when the county already owns the land upon which the old structures stand. "... Regarding the sheriff's residence. If this home were on a block surrounded by other homes and the lot that it stands on was similar to the lots in this neighborhood; I would be inclined to save the structure because no sizeable structure could be built on a residential lot. Preservation of such a home would make far more sense than holding on to the footprint that it displaces today on a larger campus site. Far more has been committed to preservation in both buildings prior to demolition than can be preserved by gutting both buildings to serve some other useful purpose. You people here today could contribute ideas of how to incorporate staircases, woodwork, Sheriff's residence front door, the sandstone exterior, and perhaps even some of the bars and cellblock materials into a new building. Pictures and salvaged materials could do a lot to preserve history, while allowing the county to exercise fiscal responsibility in meeting its' space needs for the future. For these reasons, I will be in support of a motion to award bids for the demolition of both structures. I hope you understand that this is a decision that I have thought long and hard about and one which I do not take lightly. ,....