At the board’s September 14 meeting, the Jail Needs Assessment Report was discussed. The nearly 100 page report was presented to the county board over a month ago.
The Jail Needs Assessment committee spent 18 months developing the report that looked at four options for the future of the county jail. Options included closing the jail and totally outsourcing, a 72-hour book and hold facility, a 90-day hold facility, or a 365-day facility that meets the Department of Corrections requirements. The committee recommended a 365-day Class III facility.
The commissioners took time over the last month to study the report and its conclusions. Commissioner Mitch Lentz said the committee completed the process they were tasked to do. He asked if other board members need more information. Chairman Randy Dahl said he had received several phone calls supporting the construction of a 365-day jail. There has been discussion about using the jail in Howard County, Iowa as a model.
Commissioner Larry Hindt said the calls he had received were also positive favoring a new jail. Commissioner Marc Prestby felt the presentation from the committee was good and that the committee had canvassed the whole county.
Commissioner Duane Bakke asked Sheriff John DeGeorge several questions. Bakke wanted an accurate cost estimate. He made it clear the board will be involved in the process from this point forward. Bakke wanted to know the jail population over the last four years. The recommendation from the committee suggested a 32-bed jail. DeGeorge explained that they would likely never fill 32 beds; the state has over 15 classifications of inmates that they will need to abide by. There could be six beds to a cell with only one bed occupied due to a particular classification.
Bakke asked to learn more about book and release. County attorney Brett Corson explained a person may have to be held over a weekend until he/she can come before a judge; some may not post bail.
Bakke asked if the county could obtain a long term contract with the state? Could the county have its own Sentence to Serve program? DeGeorge said that should be possible.
County administrator Bobbie Hillery said we all recognize we don’t have 32 offenders at any one time, but need to have flexibility of design to handle all types of prisoners to meet our rehabilitation goals.
Bakke questioned the need for the same number of full time jobs for outsourcing as for a 365-day facility. DeGeorge explained two deputies would need to be available for transporting prisoners 24/7, if the total outsourcing option was selected.
Hillery reported that a $3.8 million bond was taken out in 2003 to pay for the courthouse remodel. The county is now budgeting $270,000 per year to pay off that bond; the final payment will be made in 2024.
Dahl stated plans for the jail should not go overboard, but must meet the county’s needs. He said we will be expending money going forward; he would like a consensus on where it is coming from. Hillery suggested the design phase is expensive, but is needed for an accurate cost. Lentz said he wanted to go forward with the committee’s recommendation, but the cost is unknown at this time. He noted he did not want to spend more than $5 million.
A motion was made and approved unanimously to publish a Request for Proposals for architectural services. The study estimated it would cost about $100,000 for these services.
The board is making plans to visit the jail in Howard County. DeGeorge thanked the committee volunteers for all their work.
Other business in brief
• The current budget for 2022 shows an increase of 8.9%. The board asked that the budget increase be reduced to less than 3.9%. Hillery pointed to reimbursements for salaries with CARES dollars and other coronavirus program funding that will allow the levy for 2022 to be reduced substantially. The county will have to set the preliminary levy at their September 28 meeting. This number can be lowered for the final levy, but not increased.
• Kurt Wayne, District 6 principal planner, reviewed MnDOT’s 10-year capital highway investment plan. District 6 is an 11 county area. Minnesota’s state highway system is over 100 years old and covers 11,694 miles. The District 6 10-year plan is updated annually. The 10-year plan for Fillmore County includes reconstruction of Highway 30 in Rushford in 2022, resurfacing of Highway 43 from Highway 44 to Highway 18 in 2023, resurfacing Highway 52 from Fountain to Chatfield in 2026, reconstruction of Highway 250 in Lanesboro in 2026, reconstruction of Highway 16 from Tracy Rd. to Griswald St. in Spring Valley in 2027, and resurfacing of Highway 52 from the Iowa border to Fillmore County road 22 in 2030.
Board members pointed out areas of concern like sharp curves on Nelson Hill north of Fountain on Highway 52, the Highway 63 high traffic intersection in Spring Valley, and curves on Highway 43. It was suggested that a group be created to bring issues forward to MnDOT, so they can bring them to the legislature to encourage them to increase funding to address road issues. We are mostly just in a preservation mode now.
• County Engineer Ron Gregg recommended spending $251,500 of Fillmore County funds received by the highway department from the County Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act on two tandem plow trucks to be received in 2021. His recommendation was approved as presented. The trucks had been included in this year’s budget.
• The agreement for Lanesboro Abatement was approved.
• An agreement with the University of Minnesota Extension for 2022-2024 was approved.
• Andrew Drake was hired as replacement Highway Maintenance Specialist effective September 29.
• An access permit to CR 21 for Jacob Hyke, section 28 in the city of Canton was approved.
• An access permit to CR 110 for Antonio Stemp, section 27 Carimona Township was approved.
• A resolution was approved amending the Fillmore County SSTS Ordinance, section 405, SSTS Practitioner Licensing, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The amendment removes the ability of a landowner to install his own septic system, requiring installation by a licensed contractor.
• There was more discussion about ways to use American Recovery Act funding. Ways to use the funding need to qualify under the act’s restrictions. Hillery asked if a committee should be established. Some of the funding has been received.
• Negotiations continued with Law Enforcement Labor Service (LELS) for the 2022 contract. It was noted by a union representative that there are 25% fewer graduates in law enforcement than there were 10 years ago. The LELS proposal was reviewed.
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