Supervisors discuss funding and location of proposed jail/public safety center

by Bob Beach

During the regular meeting of the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Monday, February 2, Board Chairman Larry Schellhammer told the Board that his impression after attending the recent meeting of the Public Safety Center Committee is that how the County plans to pay for a new jail will be a major issue when a bond referendum is put before voters. He said that he had been in contact with Hacker, Nelson & Co., the accounting firm that holds the current contract for County audits, about conducting an independent study regarding several funding options, including a special levy for the full project cost, the use of unassigned cash reserves, pledging the County Farm rent to paying down the bonded amount for the project, or selling the County Farm. "It's the Board of Supervisors' turn," Schellhammer said. "We need to project a clear message and a clear direction."
Supervisor Dan Byrnes agreed with Schellhammer, saying that his impression is that people with strong opinions on the issue are forming factions and that an independent study on the funding options could reveal a clear direction. Regarding the use of the County's cash reserves, Byrnes said that there are still unknown costs to take into account, such as the demolition of the current Makee Manor building. He noted that the estimated construction cost is just an estimate, not a bid, and that any available cash reserves may need to be used for those costs.
Byrnes also expressed concerns about the operational costs of the facility at Makee Manor, as recommended by the Public Safety Center Committee, compared to the operational costs at the Sherman property suggested for the project on the southwest edge of Waukon. He said that he would like to see 20-year projected estimates of the cost of propane gas at the Makee Manor site compared to an estimate of the cost of natural gas, which would be available at the Sherman site, as well as city utilities compared to the maintenance cost of the lagoon system and well at Makee Manor.
Byrnes added that he agrees that the Makee Manor building needs to come down, but noted that it wouldn't need to come down right away if a different site were chosen for the new jail. He said that choosing the Sherman site would buy the County the time needed to acquire grants to help cover the cost of asbestos removal and the demolition of the building.
Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick pointed out that city water and sewer rates may increase if the city is forced to construct a new water treatment facility. For the benefit of Supervisor Dennis Koenig, who was unable to attend last week's meeting of the Public Safety Center Committee, Mellick then reviewed the analysis of the Makee Manor site, the Sherman property and the property directly east of the new fire station in Waukon (see the related story that begins on the front page of this week's edition of The Standard for more details). Mellick reported that following discussion and review of the analysis of the sites, the Public Safety Center Committee had voted unanimously to recommend that the Makee Manor site be used for the proposed facility.
Koenig agreed with Schellhammer and Byrnes that there are still questions that need to be answered, but pointed out that the difference in site preparation costs for the Sherman site compared to the Makee Manor site could buy quite a bit of propane. He also agreed with Mellick's observation that the city's water and sewer rates are likely to increase over time.
The Board also met with Allamakee County Engineer Brian Ridenour, who presented the Board with bids for repainting of center lines on County roads. The Board accepted the low bid of $68,197.13 from AAA Striping Service of St. Michael, MN on Ridenour's recommendation. Also bidding on the project were Vogel Traffic Service of Orange City ($68,379.49), KAM Line Highway Markings of Gilbert ($71,379.22) and Iowa Plains Signing of Waterloo ($100,654.59).
In other business, the Board gave Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Coordinator Jean Bossom permission to electronically sign the contract with the Iowa Department of Public Health for the Partnerships for Success Grant recently awarded to ASAP. She clarified that the grant would fund programs designed to reduce underage drinking, beginning this year with approximately $46,000 for an eight-month period, and would provide up to $83,000 annually over the next four years (not eight years as was reported in The Standard last week.)
The Board approved the hiring of Andy Plozel to a maintenance position in the County Secondary Roads Department and approved detour routes for parades and events in Waukon throughout the year. The Board also met with Jane Regan of Leschensky Insurance to review the County's property, automobile, liability and worker's compensation insurance policies.