County officials plan on promoting the idea of a new judicial center through a series of meeting with citizens, while expressing reservations for holding a public referendum on bonding.

Monday, March 25, 2002

County officials plan on promoting the idea of a new judicial center through a series of meeting with citizens, while expressing reservations for holding a public referendum on bonding.

These opinions were discussed as part of a discussion forum between county officials and two representatives of county residents held at the Tribune’s offices Friday. Those representatives called for more public input on the project, though they agreed on the necessity of the new facility.

The county board voted 4 to 1 at Tuesday’s commissioners meeting to designate Boarman, Kroos, Vogel Group as an architect for the judicial center. The firm is working on developing on a schematic design with construction beginning possibly in October this year.

A concept plan designed by the BKV Group shows that the facility will be a three-story building, with a 117-bed jail on the lower level. The new facility would be added to the current Law Enforcement Center, requiring the vacating of Pearl Street and the demolition of the Western Grocery Building.

Karen Smed questioned if the projections for jail population are accurate. Considering that the loss of the Farmland plant occurred after the BKV research, it could be overestimated, she pointed out.

But County Administrator Ron Gabrielsen emphasized that the trend of growing numbers of inmates would likely last. Commissioner Chair Dave Mullenbach said that the designed capacity is to serve the needs of Freeborn County, and they are not counting on renting beds to other counties.

As for funding, Gabrielsen said a ballpark figure of the impact on taxpayers would be between $50 and $80 a year for a residence worth $100,000.

The board authorized Gabrielsen to start negotiating with investment firms to figure out financial options to generate the estimated $20 million construction cost. And he showed a reluctance to select a method that would require a public referendum.

But Anthony Trow pointed out state law requires the county to have a referendum when it issues general obligation bonds in excess of $675,000. The county should not leave an impression that it is avoiding public scrutiny no matter what financial vehicle it would choose, he said.