After 18 months of study, the Jail Committee announced their conclusions and recommendations at the Fillmore County Board’s August 3 meeting.
Sheriff John DeGeorge and committee member John Zanmiller, Bristol Township, reported on the committee’s findings. The more than 50-year-old jail has not been able to meet Department of Corrections (DOC) requirements for some time. It was reduced to a 90-day facility by the DOC in 2017. The DOC has warned that if the many insufficiencies are not resolved they could order the closure of the jail at any time.
The committee thoroughly studied four options for the future of the jail: closing the jail and totally outsource, a 72-hour book and hold facility, a 90-day hold facility, or a 365-day facility which meets DOC requirements to operate 365 days per year.
The upfront and long term costs and issues of each option were studied. Upfront costs for the first two options are relatively low, but the yearly operating costs in 2021 dollars are between $610,000 to $820,000 per year due to personnel, transportation costs, and out of county housing costs. The 90- day facility would require nearly as much as the 365-day facility upfront and over twice as much to operate each year. The 365-day facility will cost significantly less to operate annually with the upfront costs slightly more than the 90-day facility. The committee believes in the long run the construction of the 365-day facility will cost less to operate and provide more inmates with the opportunity to change the course of their lives and reduce recidivism.
The committee also looked at the effect on Fillmore County residents and the quality of their lives, the effect on public safety and a sense of safety. The impact on economic and social capital was considered while looking at each of the options. Other considerations included victim and offender programs and the impact on recidivism rates. The impact on taxpayers for the upfront capital investment was considered.
The committee recommended constructing a 365-day facility to fulfill the immediate and long-term needs. It is the best option for public safety and for fulfilling the needs of Fillmore County citizens. Zanmiller reviewed other recommendations including the appointment of a Jail Design Team which will make its recommendations to the county board. A qualified architectural firm will need to be retained to prepare a Comprehensive Master Plan for a 365-day jail. Zanmiller stressed an architect should be credentialed in specialized projects of jail development. The committee recommends the continued community outreach effort to keep citizens and taxpayers informed and engaged in the process.
No action was taken this day. Commissioners want time to study the full report, which is nearly 100 pages long.
DeGeorge said they had the opportunity to tour a jail opened in 2020 in Howard County, Iowa. He said he felt it was very close to what Fillmore County will need. It was a 32 bed facility. Their total cost was $4.5 million. Zanmiller said there are no new ideas; we just take the best ones from other places. Chairman Randy Dahl thanked DeGeorge and the committee members (many were present) for their work and public outreach; it was a very good process.
Appointed Recorder
There were no comments from the public during the second public hearing regarding an appointed county recorder vs. an elected position. A resolution was unanimously approved making the recorder position an appointed position. Recorder David Kiehne will finish his elected term which ends December 31, 2022. A recorder will be appointed on January 2, 2023. Kiehne had requested to have time, a year or so, to train someone for the position. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery said they have gone through the process to be allowed to appoint the position. She added that the duties of a county recorder or the auditor/treasurer (now appointed) have gone way beyond what they once were when these were elected positions with no required working knowledge of the duties.
Other business in brief
•Jill Huffman, chief operating officer at Harmony Telephone Company, updated the board on the availability of broadband in the county. She discussed the deficiencies of wireless broadband (trees, bluffs, and so on). The federal requirements to be considered a served area are much less than the requirements the state of Minnesota uses to consider an area served. She noted there has been significant broadband work going on in the eastern half of the county. Huffman showed where Harmony Telephone/MiBroadband projects are currently happening (Harmony area and mostly south of Preston). A proposed next phase would include area around and north of Fountain. She said each project feeds off the next. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) does point to wireline connections (a positive) prioritizing investment in fibre optic infrastructure.
•Anna Nelson, property near Wykoff on CR 117, addressed the board during the Citizens Input portion of the meeting. She detailed an ongoing dust control issue caused by gravel trucks from a quarry operated by Bruening Rock Products. The rate of speed and the lack of regular dust control are the issues. She told the commissioners that she hoped they can find a solution so her family can enjoy their property.
•Terry Shultz, Maintenance supervisor, and Jason McCaslin, assessor, each reported their department’s proposed 2022 budget. Schultz said his biggest change from last year was salary costs and benefits and McCaslin said he added educational expenses for the new appraisers.
•The expansion of a driveway access to CR 23 was approved for Elliot Rustad, section 15, Amherst Township.
Wykoff resident says
I agree with the commission. Fillmore County needs a new jail.