04-12-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--April 12, 1999 1965 DEPARTMENT HEADS--PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 12, 1999 MEETING TO ORDER Chairperson Robbie Quick called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM with all members present as follows: Paul Koenig, John Meyer, Alon Wieland, Donna Schneider and Robbie Quick. There were about 10 people present in the audience, including Sheriff Don Rudnick and three members of his staff. Other County staff in attendance were Birch Burdick, State's Attorney; Bonnie Johnson, County Coordinator; and Michael Montplaisir, County Auditor. JAIL SITE, Board selects area near 34th Street and 4th Avenue South for proposed new jail Mrs. Quick said the purpose of this special meeting is to select a site for a proposed new Cass County jail, pending the outcome of a sales tax vote on April 20, 1999. A Site Selection Committee, consisting of community leaders, real estate professionals and law enforcement personnel, reviewed a total of 44 sites and narrowed it down to three sites. Those three sites being considered today are as follows: 1) 45th Street Northwest between 12th Avenue and 19th Avenue North; 2) near the intersection of 34th Street and 4th Avenue, which is south of Main Avenue and east of Interstate 29; and 3) adjacent to the Cass County Courthouse. The Commission also provided opportunities for public input at the March 15 and April 5, 1999, regular board meetings, as well as receiving letters, e-mail messages and telephone calls from Cass County citizens. Bonnie Johnson prepared a hand-out regarding site size, location and costs; as well as presenting an overview of the Site Selection Committee's threshold criteria and scoring mechanism concerning the various sites under consideration. She again named the three sites under consideration by the Board and said there have been a number of letters and e-mail messages providing public input, which is very important to this process. A fourth site, the former St. John's Hospital, was ruled out because of the cost of purchase and demolition, according to Mrs. Johnson. Michael Montplaisir provided sketches of the three possible jail site locations, and he prepared a list of advantages and disadvantages for each site. He said the Crane Johnson site, meaning the 34th Street and 4th Avenue South area behind Crane Johnson Lumber Company, has at least two possible parcels for sale that contain 20 or more acres of land. Sheriff Rudnick prepared a letter dated April 12, 1999, which he read to the Board giving his views on the three proposed sites and recommending the 34th Street and 4th Avenue South location. This site is also the preference stated to him by members of the Fargo Police Department, the West Fargo Police Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol because of its central location. County staff also favor this area, according to the Sheriff. Mrs. Quick invited informal discussion from fellow commissioners, and each one gave their thoughts on a possible site for a proposed new jail. An opportunity was given for any additional comments or discussion. Hearing none, Mrs. Quick invited a motion on the proposed jail site.