By MaryHelen Swanson

Jails, roads, and budgets. They're about as infamous at county board meetings as lions, and tigers and and bears on the way to the land of Oz.

Last week the commissioners held a work session to discuss the three although there was so much discussion on the first two there wasn't time for the budget.

Budgets, specifically the 2008 budget, is coming up at 4 p.m. this Wednesday preceding the regular county board meeting.

Sheriff Todd Rivard along with jail consultant David Pracher faced the board with some data and numbers to get the discussion going on the proposed new jail.

Their goal, Rivard said, was to get consensus from the board to move forward.

The discussion started with Prachar presenting population projections that showed Chisago County growing by 94.4 percent by 2035.

But that was questioned when it was noted that growth has slowed most likely due to the economy and a housing slump.

The state prison population growth, however, projected at 174 percent by 2030, didn't seem to be out of line and the concern is that the state will be sending more prisoners to the county jails. The state is paying $6/day to house prisoners in county jails.

With questions asked about the projected $40 million cost and comparisons with two neighboring counties who have or are in the process of building new jails, Pracher provided comparisons of the projects.

Chisago County is planning a law enforcement center plus 176-bed jail with internal expansion to 277.

Kanabec County is planning a dispatch center plus a 96-bed jail with expansion to 152, and a 52-bed unit shelled and unfinished.

Pine County, whose new facility just opened along I-35, is a government center with a 135-bed jail with external expansion to 195.

Currently, the average daily jail population in Chisago County's 67-bed facility is 92.4 (with double bunking), in Kanabec 38.5 and in Pine County 39.3.

Each year the county delays building, the cost goes up 5 percent, Pracher said. Right now the projected total cost of the project is $40,159,975 and Pracher doesn't think the cost will go any higher than that.

That cost includes $22,061,859 for a jail building, $6,201,373 for a law enforcement center, $544,098 for courthouse expansion (inmate transport).

In addition soft costs include: $2,380,000 for the land purchase and utility extension to the property, $3,945,183 for furniture, fixtures, equipment and technology, $350,400 for survey, soil testing, printing, advertising, code review, etc., $3,236,696 for consultant fees (architect/engineers, construction management and project coordination), and $1,440,366 for construction contingencies.

Commissioner Mike Robinson asked Pracher if he worked on the Pine County project and he said yes. Robinson asked him what was wrong with that jail. Pracher said it was the size of the sheriff's departments that is the issue.

A lot of jail design is driven by standards and law, Pracher said, adding "it's got to be secure and it has to be efficient."

Commissioner Ben Montzka said to Pracher that he has to assure the commissioners they get what they need, nothing more. "Not a BMW" he said, to provide for our community and no more.

Commissioner Lynn Schultz asked about designing with "green concepts" in place. Pracher said that cost is more up-front.

Pracher said he has spent a lot of time with the jail staff, now he needs a conceptual plan and move to the next level.

He reminded the commissioners that $40 million is not the jail cost, it's the project cost.

It's based upon a conceptual idea. He said now is the time to bring in the experts to design it and bring costs down.

Pracher, responding to Robinson's concern about lack of information on the project, agreed that more communication was clearly needed.

Rivard made a commitment to attend the county board meeting twice a month.

County Administrator John Moosey said he would be bringing a resolution to this week's board meeting to make this a real project.

He also will start annexation proceedings with Center City for the property the county just purchased for the jail.

And Moosey said soon he would have contracts ready for construction manager and architect.