Commission trims jail costs, hears from critic
Secretary to provide more info about development group
Staff reporter
The pencil again was sharpened Monday when Marion County Commission reviewed other options regarding a law enforcement center.
Architect Dan Hall of BG Consultants, Inc. of Manhattan, revised the county's plans for a total of 40 beds at a cost estimate of $9,445,855.
Commissioner chairman Randy Dallke opened the discussion by stating the commission needed to determine the cost to operate the facility and calculate the lost revenue with 32 fewer beds.
If all 40 beds are "farmed out," commissioner Dan Holub estimated there would be a revenue of $516,000 per year which would not cover operating expenses.
"We're giving up $430,000 in revenue," Holub said, which could cover operating costs and bond payments.
"Operating costs are the same with 40 beds or 72," Holub said.
He suggested the commission consider reducing the number of maximum security cells from 16 to eight. Each cell has its own bathroom because inmates in those confinements are there for 23 hours per day.
"The bottom line is we have to make this work to be self-supporting and cover sheriff's department expenses," Holub said.
He continued that county taxpayers need to be able to look 10 years ahead.
"There aren't any guarantees this will work," Holub said. People are using fear to keep projects from happening, he said.
Dallke said the commission needed to look at ways to cut costs.
"If this doesn't work (cutting construction costs and an approved sales tax increase) then we'll have to haul to Harvey County or Cottonwood Falls," he said.
Dallke said he would contact Hall to discuss the reduction of maximum security cells.
Stan Thiessen of Hillsboro was asked to come before the commission regarding comments he had made in a letter to the editor in an area newspaper.
Thiessen explained that his concern was not so much the jail project itself but how the county commission is going about making decisions about economic development.
"There are other ways to spend tax dollars for economic development other than a jail," he said. He asked the commission if an economic impact study had been completed. The commission responded there had not.
Holub responded that the commission had never promoted the law enforcement center as an economic development project and there had been numerous public meetings regarding the discussion of options.
The commission explained that the county's jail is more than 70 years old and there is a need to address compliance issues.
"They have tents and barbed wire in Arizona," Thiessen responded. With that, Dallke said the county had to follow state and federal guidelines for a jail and the county either needed to build a jail or "drive our money out of the county."
"We're not trying to develop a business," Holub said. "We're trying to bring tax relief."
Thiessen said if the county was to use tax dollars for this size of a project, all facets needed to be explored.
"This isn't the only problem this county has," he continued, "and it's not the biggest problem. We need to determine what this county is and bridge the divisiveness between Marion and Hillsboro."
Dallke asked Thiessen to elaborate on other issues and problems.
Thiessen said the silting issues at Marion Reservoir were ignored by previous commissions and now "it's too late." He blamed the county commissions for those issues at the reservoir because the county failed to recognize the importance at the time.
"Lake traffic is slowing down and tourism is going away," Thiessen said.
He continued that the commission should not make decisions without county input.
Holub said the commission will put the question on the ballot and let voters decide.
"When we walk through the door (to the commission room), we're looking at the good of Marion County and conduct business for the entire county," Dallke said. "I have been told by Stan that county funds used for economic development have been wasted."
"County economic development is at a crises level," Thiessen said, and the commission doesn't even know it. He continued that the Marion County Economic Development Council lacks the knowledge to accomplish economic development goals.
Following Thiessen's conversation with the commission, county economic development secretary Teresa Huffman was instructed to provide more information to the commission regarding the county council.
Holub asked if the council could meet in an evening instead of noon. Huffman said there wasn't a representative from Lehigh because the meetings are at noon once a month.
The next council meeting is at noon Feb. 21 in Burns.
Dallke requested minutes from the meetings and quarterly reports be provided to the commission and should include a treasurer's report.
Huffman reported the council's officers for this year are Tina Groening, president, Jim Elliott, vice president, and Becky Nuss, treasurer. Huffman serves as the secretary and contact person of the group.
In other development business:
— Huffman reported she attended a grant workshop Friday in Salina regarding National Homeland Security funds for fire departments.
— Florence and Burns will have film crews from KWCH Channel 12 of Wichita for advertisements. Huffman reported the City of Marion is planning to advertise on the television station for six months.
— Marion County may have an opportunity to host a regional energy conference, hosted by USDA Rural Development.
