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Two minute jail update appeases commissioners |
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By MaryHelen Swanson
He walked to the front of the board room, took a seat and in less than two minutes, jail consultant David Pracher updated the commissioners on the progress on planning for a new county jail.
The architect’s work is done, he said.
And he said the schematic design cost estimates would be completed and presented to the Jail Committee at its meeting Friday, April 25.
But, there may be some changes, he cautioned and the architect may have to make them after the Friday meeting, so a workshop for the commissioners may be delayed.
Quickly he reminded them that his goal is to coordinate a workshop as soon as the plan is ready.
Board chairwoman Lynn Schultz said she rather expected more of a report.
She asked for a specific date to receive the schematic design.
During this brief briefing, Commissioner Ben Montzka felt compelled to interject his thoughts on what a board representative is supposed to do.
When a member sits on a subcommittee, he said, referring to commissioners Mike Robinson and Bob Gustafson who are on the jail committee, and receive per diems to do so, he expects they report on that committee.
Robinson, responding, said per the item of soil borings from a previous meeting, he did not know about the issue.
Pracher also noted that the committee members have not seen any cost estimates for the proposed jail.
The process has taken longer, Pracher said, because of the detail that has been pursued.
He promised that after Friday’s meeting, he would give the board an estimate of when a workshop could be conducted.
Schultz had some demands of the consultant.
She wanted minutes distributed to the commissioners from all of the jail committee meetings ... from day one.
When the consultant is ready to make a presentation on the project, she wants at least three countywide public information meetings held giving the public the same information as the commissioners receive.
She said she wants the public to see what is being proposed.
Finally, Schultz said she wants a list of the options that are before the commissioners, options that may change the scope of the project.
Pracher said there are already five options.
Montzka continued to pursue the issue of process with regard to the two representatives on the jail committee.
Commissioner Gustafson said “we don’t vote.”
Pracher said it has been beneficial to have them at the meetings, to see the process and weigh in on issues so the planners are not spinning their wheels.
County Administrator John Moosey talked about the need to get costs, even costs of delaying the project or shutting down the process all together.
Nothing is decided, he offered, reminding all that the $40 million figure has had just been thrown out.
Pracher said that the delay in bringing a package to the board was because they didn’t have numbers.
He said when its ready, his presentation will be extensive and long, probably more than two or four hours long.
Schultz was concerned that there are questions, but no answers to give to the public.
But Gustafson felt the first work session should be only with the commissioners. He said a big problem was in putting out that $40 million figure in the first place.
The first number is never forgotten, Pracher said, adding “and it’s the most inaccurate number.”
When ready, the package will meet the board’s requirement for a 277-bed jail, with or without a law enforcement center.
Pracher said they want to be sure to give the board an acceptable product so they can say yes or no.
And that, he said, will include the costs of doing nothing.
Regarding his lack of attendance at county board meetings, Pracher told the commissions they should let him know if they don’t think he’s there enough.
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