Focus on the issue
The current debate about the new justice center/jail is turning into a hockey match. There's that quip, "We went to a fight and a hockey match broke out." I'm not a hockey fan. Nor am I a fan of watching two strong-willed personalities trade insults and make blanket comments about Marion County residents.
I also don't think there's much to be gained by sensationalizing a shouting match between an elected official and a constituent, as reported in an area paper this past week.
The exchange between Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub and Hillsboro resident Stan Thiessen was reported, factually, in this paper. But it wasn't the main thrust of the story. We chose to focus on the important issue — a possible solution for an outdated jail facility — rather than the tired, old feud of Marion vs. Hillsboro.
We'll not choose sides in that feud. It would serve no purpose. We'll not even choose a side in the jail issue — yet. We don't have all the facts.
There are some undisputed certainties — we have to do something. This county needs a jail or some way to incarcerate lawbreakers. It's not a cosmetic issue. It's a necessity, like lights, water, and sewer.
Our current jail is outdated and could soon be closed because of noncompliance. We could remodel the aging facility we now use. We could build a new jail. If we build, we then have to decide whether to build it just big enough for our current jail population (an expense), or build it to house out-of-county prisoners (a self-supporting revenue stream). Or, we could just take all our prisoners (and our tax dollars) out of county.
The determining factor in all this is the cost. How will we pay for it?
With all these big issues swirling around, county commissioners need to put personalities aside and concentrate on coming up with a plan that will be the best fit for the county.
We won't get anywhere by being divisive. We can debate the Hillsboro vs. Marion issue till the cows come home, but it won't solve anything. Been there, done that. Let's move on.
— DONNA BERNHARDT
