H.C. Supervisors hear about jail
Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:27am
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—Will vote on bond approval resolution Feb. 21
By:
By Marcie Klomp News Editor tpdeditor@crescotimes.com
CRESCO - A committee was formed last year to look into the Howard County Jail situation. Those findings were brought to the Howard County Board of Supervisors at a meeting on Monday, Feb. 13.
Basically the Howard County Jail is outdated and does not meet current State Code requirements.
Recent inspections have allowed some requirements to be put on hold while a plan was put in place.
Local Sheriff Mike Miner has been putting band-aids on a 135-year old building and the adhesive no longer sticks. The problems are getting bigger, and the regulations are more stringent.
The recommendation of the committee is to tear down the present structure and build a new, bigger nearly $5 million facility at the same location.
The Supervisors listened as Miner, John Hansen of Midwest Construction Consultants and architect Rick Weidner explained the plan.
Supervisors Jan McGovern, Don Burnikel and Pat Murray voted to start the process for a bond approval resolution, which will be presented at the next meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 21.
The new facility will have to be paid for through a bond referendum, which means the citizens of Howard County will vote at a special election to be held on May 2, 2017. At that time, residents of the county will have the opportunity to vote for or against the new structure.
In the meantime, Miner and members of the committee will be visiting with each community in the county for town hall meetings to explain the jail complex, what makes up the $5 million price tag and what the average property owner will be paying over a 20-year period.
In addition, two open houses are planned for as early as March, to give locals a chance to see the current jail, administrative offices and dispatch center.
A sneak peak on the cost to property owners is approximately $37.01 per year for a $125,000 home; $45.90 for a $100,000 multi-residential property; $47.90 for a $100,000 commercial/industrial property; and $14.37 for 40 agricultural acres.
Look for more information in upcoming issues of Times Plain Dealer.
