12-06-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--December 6, 1999 2068 13. JAIL PLANNING UPDATE, Design development presentation Representatives of Foss/Kimme & Associates were present to give an update on the design progress of the Cass County Jail. A power point presentation was given by David Bostwick, Kimme & Associates of Champaign, Illinois, and by Rick Hoganson, Foss Associates of Fargo. Bill Cowman, Foss Associates, was also present. The proposed new jail will consist of approximately 130,000 square feet and will have an initial capacity of 252 beds. Cell blocks will be for single occupancy, double occupancy, and dormitory style to accommodate the various prisoner classifications. The cost of the new jail is estimated at $17,921,145. A tentative schedule for the project includes bid opening April 20, 2000, groundbreaking on May 30th, and project completion in early 2002. Mr. Cowman indicated the construction industry is very interested in the jail project. 14. RESOLUTION #1999-18 , MIDA Bond application for MeritCare Hospitallpublic hearing set Roger Lee, MeritCare Hospital, and Dave Baker, Norwest Bank, were present to answer any questions concerning the application of MeritCare Hospital for MIDA Bond financing in an amount not to exceed $2,150,000. The purpose of the bonds is to refinance indebtedness of the hospital which was incurred in connection with the acquisition, construction and equipping of a medical clinic located at 2400 32nd Avenue South in the City of Fargo. The application was reviewed and approved as to form by Birch Burdick, Cass County State's Attorney. Michael Montplaisir, County Auditor, said this amount falls within the county's annual $10 million bond limit, as the county has only issued $500,000 in MIDA bonds this year. MOTION, passed Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to adopt Resolution #1999-18 Relating to a Project Under the Municipal Industrial Development Act, Giving the Project Preliminary Approval Subject to a Public Hearing for the MeritCare Hospital project. The public hearing is scheduled for December 20, 1999, at a meeting of the Cass County Board of Commissioners beginning at 3:30 PM in the County Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse, Fargo, North Dakota. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. 15. COMPUTER CONVERSION, District Court software system Last week, County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson discussed proposed changes in the vendor software system currently operating in Cass County with District Court Judge Norman J. Backes. Changes proposed by the North Dakota State Court Administrator would be a step backward from the integrated software system currently used in Cass County by the Jail, State's Attorney's Office and Clerk of Court. Judge Backes and Judge Frank Racek were present at today's meeting, and Judge Backes said one of the questions that came up on the State level is whether Cass County would continue to maintain the present system when the Clerk's Office becomes a part of the State judicial system. Because the current software system, Professional Computer Software Services (PCSS), works so well for all the departments in Cass County who use it, the Commission was in agreement to maintain and finance this integrated system until such time as the State develops a comparable system, which is scheduled for the year 2005. At that time, the county would re- evaluate its own PCSS system and explore linkages with the new court package.