By MaryHelen Swanson

After much discussion Wednesday, Nov. 7, the Chisago County commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution stating their intent to construct a jail/law enforcement center. Or, as County Administrator John Moosey termed it, they made it a "real project."

In the resolution, it notes that the county has been receiving citations and warnings for structural deficiencies of the current jail, and that the county is holding two times as many prisoners as it has beds for, resulting in substantial expense in paying to house prisoners out of county.

The resolution makes note that the county has been investigating the use and capabilities of the current jail for five years and that an independent assessment in 2005 identified several fundamental problem areas in the current jail design and future jail needs.

Further, it states that the county board believes it is in the best interest of the county to plan for the future, and has purchased 59.1 acres of land as a potential future site of a new jail.

It is now the intent of the county board to construct a new jail/law enforcement center (LEC) on that property.

The county will inform the Minnesota Department of Corrections of this adopted resolution.

The fact that they have approved this action in no way dictates a size or price or even location, or even if the law enforcement center will be included at this time.

Commissioner Ben Montzka wondered about using the extra space in the Government Center for law enforcement now that the Health and Human Services Department moved to North Branch. He had a problem with funding a new LEC.

Moosey, however, pointed out that there's not much open space as Environmental Services needed some space. Furthermore, Moosey has an idea for the future that he intends to consider in the event the county moves forward with a jail/law enforcement center.

Then, maybe 5-10 years down the road, he plans to create a task force to study the addition of up to three more courtrooms on the third floor of the center and move court administration to the second floor in the area previously occupied by HHS.

Sheriff Rivard noted that his department is all out of space in the basement of the Government Center. "We'd be looking for expansion," he said.

He said there is a need to look at the new LEC a little more and come up with costs before the commissioners could make an educated decision on the LEC.

Commissioner Bob Gustafson suggested that the county would get more for its money to do both (jail/LEC) projects together "rather than piecemeal."

Rivard said he has to look at the big picture, when he gets costs, better decision can be made.

Still, Montzka wanted to see costs for just the jail.

Some commissioners favor building in phases, one being Commissioner Rick Green, but he agreed the jail should be built. Montzka said he'd only support a jail if it was large enough to be economical. But he said he'd need more convincing on the LEC.

Some commissioners expressed concern that the public has been told the jail will cost $40 million.

That figure came from a study done two years ago and includes the jail building, law enforcement center, land purchase, utilities extensions and all soft costs involved in such a project.

Commissioner Lynn Schultz had some concerns with bonding that would last 20 years.

Moosey said they want a basic "this is what it is" so they can keep upfront cost down.

Schultz wanted to know if the county can use a jail design that has is already in existence.

Rivard said that was the thinking four and a half years ago when a group from the county went to Colorado for a program on building jails.

But now, he said, they're telling us no. Apparently a lot depends on the site. Further, the cost of the jail is minute compared to costs of operation. It has to be constructed for optimal use of staff. He said the county would save $1 million for every person they don't have to have over 20 years.

Rivard also noted that trends have changed in female housing.

Commissioner Mike Robinson favored doing the project in phases. "If we had lots of money," he said, "I'd say OK."

He said it was important to get the foundation in and adjust as they go.

Schultz was happy to see the five commissioners working as a team and airing opinions.

She said the public has expressed interest in a referendum, partly because of the $40 million projected cost.

Commissioner Gustafson felt that the board could make the decision as it had all the background and information.

After discussing the public education of the project, the commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution.

The next step in the process will be to hire an architect to create a schematic design which may include options such as including the law enforcement center or not including the law enforcement center in the original project. From there, costs can be determined and the board can choose an option that the county can best afford.

More accurate costs will be determined once the board has a better picture of the project.

For now, the only action action taken is to move forward with the project.

In other business:

• During the public forum, North Branch businessman Tom Borchardt, of Bull's Eye Shooting Range, informed the board that his range has been built for law enforcement shooting and suggested the county might want to forego including a shooting range in the new jail plans.

• Prior to the board meeting last week, the commissioners held a budget work session with individual commissioners presenting their concept for a 2008 budget while reducing the levy increase. Some were aiming at an 11 percent increase while Gustafson had even a 9 percent option. Moosey reminded them if they go much under 14 percent there will be positions cut and services have already been held down.

Robinson is suggesting using a million dollars from reserves to balance the budget. Montzka and Gustafson are afraid that would affect the county's bond rating. It would, said Moosey, if the county did it for two years in a row.

The truth in taxation hearing will be Dec. 6 at which time county residents can ring in on the budget. The board will hold a special board meeting Dec. 12 to finalize the 2008 budget and adopt a final levy.