Commission considers other options with county jail project
Staff reporter
In an effort to respond to public concerns, Marion County Commission will look at other options besides the "Cadillac" model for a jail/judicial center.
During Monday's commission meeting, the commission instructed county clerk Carol Maggard to obtain additional information from architect Dan Hall of BG Consultants regarding options.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said he had been contacted by three individuals who were in agreement that the county needed to address the jail issue but wondered if a smaller facility would be more prudent.
Commissioner Bob Hein said he had six or seven people contact him regarding the issue of an increased sales tax. It was suggested to him to wait until we really need to build.
"What if the sales tax doesn't cover it?" asked Hein. "We'd have to increase the mill levy."
Hein said some have suggested county inmates should be taken to Chase County.
But in the end, Hein wants to see the question on the ballot.
"We need to leave it up to the voters," he said.
Commissioner Dan Holub said he had talked to eight or nine people and the general consensus was "does the project need to be that big?"
"If we get slam dunked with courtroom security, we'll have time to comply," he said. "Maybe grant funds will be available to help us become compliant."
With that, Holub said the commission should consider cutting the courtroom, court services, and the attorney's office from the plan. Sufficient housing needs to be available for out-of-county inmates to produce a sufficient revenue stream, he added.
"I'd like to do it all once to save money," Holub said, but recognizes the tremendous financial burden the entire project would be.
Holub then suggested the project include a jail, sheriff's department, and emergency communications department.
"We have to look at long-term benefits," Holub said. "I know it hurts but it has to be done."
He continued that he had asked seven business owners if they would rather have an increased sales tax or property tax. Six of the seven told Holub they would rather see an increased sales tax.
"With an increased property tax, business owners would have to raise prices to offset the increase," Holub said.
Holub then suggested a .25 to .3 percent sales tax increase be placed on the ballot.
"Do we need 72 beds to start with?" Dallke asked. "Could we get by with a 24-bed facility?"
Staffing issues would be about the same, regardless of the size.
Cost estimates indicated the county would save $1 million in construction costs if it went from 72 to 48 beds but it was not known what the cost would be to go to 24 beds. And it was not known at the meeting if a 24-bed facility would generate a sufficient revenue stream.
"We don't want to give up a revenue producer," Holub said.
"One option that was not accomplished through this process was to put up a shell and finish as needed," Dallke said.
Holub asked what the shell would include because with this type of project, typically a lot of the interior work has to be completed at the time of construction.
"After three years, 24 beds might make enough to cover the bond payment," Holub said.
Dallke then suggested the commission request a proposal from Hall and bond counselor David Artebury of George K. Baum Company of Kansas City for the scaled-back model.
The proposal would include costs for a 24-bed facility with a shell for a jail expansion. Holub asked if the basement could be retained without a building above it. If not, perhaps the shell could include areas for the county attorney and court services.
The commission also raised questions about the architect's fees for the design and inspection which was nearly $2 million.
County clerk Carol Maggard will look into the requests. She added that she has been asked what the exterior of the facility would look like and perhaps an architect's rendering was in order when the project is finalized.
Information will be discussed at the next meeting, Jan. 31, or for sure by the following meeting, Feb. 5.
