02-16-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--February 16, 1999 1941 The Commission next discussed jail site options, and Mrs. Johnson said the list of possible sites has been narrowed down to three by the Site Selection Committee. The top two choices are remote sites and the third choice is the present jail site or adjacent to the County Courthouse. However, the size of the current site is smaller than what is recommended for a new jail, and site preparations would add about $2 million to the construction costs. Mrs. Johnson said the planning consultants recommended a site with about 20 acres in order to have room for adequate parking and future expansion as needed. Commissioners discussed pros and cons of the three sites. Mr. Wieland said using the current site would prohibit other county expansion, the building would be at least 100' tall with expansion to 150' which may not be suited to the neighborhood, and he also feels the county needs to consider a site that would allow the possibility of a regional facility and regional law enforcement center in the future. Mrs. Schneider favors keeping the jail at the courthouse location because that is historically where it has been located, and the current site is convenient to the courts. Mr. Wieland said transportation from a remote site to the courthouse may not be such an issue as first thought because of the possibility of video arraignments. Jim Thoreson, Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy, served on the Site Selection Committee, and he said transportation would be minimal if video arraignments are authorized. Mrs. Johnson said Cass County has been selected for a pilot project on video hearings, and the first meeting on this topic is scheduled for next week, February 24th, at 1 :30 PM in the Cass County Commission Room. The only other pilot site in North Dakota will be at the State Hospital in Jamestown, and the project would begin with mental health proceedings. Mr. Koenig said a number of good reasons have been stated for eliminating the Courthouse campus as a potential site, and he supports pursuing a remote location. Mrs. Schneider mentioned a letter from Federal Judge Rodney Webb citing reasons for building a new jail at or near the present facility. MOTION, withdrawn Because of the additional cost considerations in building a new jail at the current location, Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to eliminate the Courthouse campus site option from the site selection list; and that the County Commission gather community input regarding any proposed remote location. Discussion: Mrs. Schneider acknowledged that the cost of building on the current site would be higher, but she asked not to eliminate this location before gathering public input on all three sites. Mr. Meyer brought up the problems with the jail boiler. Also, he called attention to Richard Strege, in the audience, who served on the Site Selection Committee. Mr. Wieland withdrew his motion and Mr. Meyer withdrew the second at this time. MOTION, passed Mr. Wieland moved and Mrs. Schneider seconded to accept the recommendation of the Site Selection Committee in the order of priority as presented, and to gather public input regarding any future proposed location; and that a decision be made within 60 days from today's date. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously.