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<br />Commission Minutes--February 1, 1999 1932 <br /> <br />10. JAIL CONSULTANTS, Presentation by Foss Associates <br />Bill Cowman and Rick Hoganson, Foss Associates of Fargo, gave a formal presentation to the <br />Board after an informal meeting with the Commissioners and county staff earlier today, on the <br />proposed construction of a new Cass County jail facility. Dennis Kimme of Kimme & Associates, <br />Champaign, Illinois, has been working with Foss Associates on the technical aspect of the <br />project; however, Mr. Kimme was unable to appear as scheduled because of weather <br />conditions. <br /> <br />Mr. Cowman said four committees, consisting of citizens, county commissioners, local/state <br />criminal justice system officials, local/state elected officials, community service providers, and <br />county staff, including the Sheriff's Department, have been involved in the planning process, <br />which was directed by County Commissioners and the County Coordinator. Technical <br />assistance was provided by Foss Associates and by Kimme & Associates. County staff toured <br />new jails throughout the Midwest and participated in the Planning of New Institutions (PONI) <br />Program provided by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The formal planning process <br />began in September, 1998, and culminates this month in anticipation of a request for funding <br />support to be placed on the April, 1999, election ballot. <br /> <br />Mr. Hoganson highlighted some of the information in the Executive Fact Sheet, dated February, <br />1999, prepared by Kimme & Associates, as follows: <br /> <br />· Existing jail is 86 years old, with a design capacity of 78 beds <br />· Inmate population reached a high of 161 in 1998, or 78% above design capacity <br />· Problems, in addition to lack of space, include prisoner classification, functional and <br />security issues <br />· Inadequate space for booking, holding and admissions <br />. Kitchen, laundry, visiting and storage areas too small to handle increased population <br />· Jail is non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) <br /> <br />The average jail and work release population during the first full year of operations at the new <br />jail (year 2002) is projected to be from 168 to 176; and the projected bed capacity by the year <br />2010 is from 280 to 310 beds. Mr. Hoganson said it is recommended that the county continue <br />to use community-based work release facilities, such as Share House and Centre, Inc. <br /> <br />The total estimated project cost is $18,000,000 for 120,000 gross square feet on one level, to <br />include occupancy for 256 beds, plus 24 in the temporary holding area of booking. Initial plans <br />call for construction of four pods, with an additional pod of housing to be constructed if alternate <br />bids are favorable. The facility will be designed for substantial future expansion by adding up <br />to five 48-bed pods, or four more if alternate #1 is accepted. <br /> <br />Mr. Hoganson reviewed site requirements and selection, which have now been narrowed down <br />to three sites in Fargo. One site is south of Main Avenue and east of Interstate 29, one is <br />located at 45th Street near 12th Avenue North, and the last site is adjacent to the existing <br />Courthouse. Commissioners would like to view the first two potential sites and asked the <br />County Coordinator to make arrangements on a weekend in the near future when Mr. Kimme <br />could fly to Fargo to assist in this process also. <br />