Timing of special election will determine progress on new jail
Staff reporter
When the dust finally settled Monday, Marion County Commission decided to continue to move forward with plans for a new law enforcement center.
After discussion and contemplation with architect Dan Hall of BG Consultants, it was determined whether a sales tax increase to pay for construction can be approved at a primary election instead of a general election.
The commission determined there was not enough time for the sales tax question to be on the November ballot. The next general election is not until November 2008. The next primary election is April 2007. That's when the commission would like the question on the ballot.
County Clerk Carol Maggard said she would research the issue to determine whether it was possible.
Originally, the commission had asked Hall to provide a request-for-proposal document that would be used to solicit bids. Maggard said the commission had already asked for and received a bid from Hall that was a part of the minutes and reported in newspapers.
Hall said his bid would not change, regardless of other bids, and he cautioned the commission to be careful when soliciting bids because some companies do not charge as much for RFP documents but make up for the difference when the project proceeds.
Another question is where the facility would be. Commission Chairman Dan Holub said that the amount of land needed could not be determined until a design was presented.
The site needs to allow for expansion, regardless of the original size of building, Hall said.
Hall said Harvey County had a good floor plan for its jail with two floors of pods for prisoners and the control center in the middle.
"I keep looking at Marion Industrial Park for the location," Hall said, "but it's really flat, and I'm not sure if an underground sally port is feasible."
The commission authorized Hall to complete the design once Maggard can determine whether the question can be placed on a primary election ballot.
Hall said it would take him 120 days to complete the design.
It also was determined that if the project moves forward, Hall would be the architect and there would not be a need for an RFP. Hall will be at next Monday's meeting.
In other business:
— The commission reviewed a resolution to reimburse county-appointed volunteers mileage. No decision was made.
— Maggard reported there was $8,094,704 cash on hand as of June 30. Of that, $2,025,387 was in the general fund and $1,561,089 was in road and bridge.
Holub commented that the majority of money was benefiting banks with out-of-county ownership.
— Michele Abbott-Becker requested and received a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel. Sheriff Lee Becker attended.
When the meeting reconvened, the commission approved the county as a fiscal agent for homeland security grant funds. Money will pass through the Emergency Management Department but no county money will be expended.
— Following a total of 55 minutes for an executive session to review pay increases, the meeting reconvened and motion was made to approve merit raises up to three percent for all full-time employees, including elected officials.
The pay for four full-time employees will increase to place them at 75 percent of the median pay for their respective positions.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.
