The use of a one percent local option sales tax to finance construction of a new jail/safety and communications center is once again gaining support.

Meeting at the Riverside Community Center Monday evening, June 14, the county Safety Center Citizen’s Study Committee decided to approach the city councils of all communities in the county to garner support for use of all proceeds of a one percent local option sales tax to finance solely the new public safety center.

After a couple of amendments, the committee voted to approach the councils soon as more detailed information is available on facility costs and financing. The motion stipulated the one percent sales tax would end once the new safety center is funded.

The committee decided to invite city council members from Washington, West Chester, Ainsworth, Crawfordsville, and Brighton to a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 28, at the Brighton Community Center.

City officials from Kalona, Riverside and Wellman are invited to a meeting at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce building at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 12.

Poll results

The committee’s move to a 1 percent sales tax to fund the jail/safety/communications center came as a result of an informal poll of county residents. The poll was placed in county newspapers and shoppers.

Those results showed that 84.4% (81 of 96) favor use of a one percent local option sales tax to finance the construction of the facility. Only 10.9 percent favor using property taxes to fund the facility.

Chairman Harvey Holden expressed surprise at the results, noting he had previously favored the a bond use financed by property taxes. Holden said he felt the committee should try to gain support for use of 100 percent of a local option sales tax from the city councils throughout the county.

Rural representative Brian Hora, Riverside, urged that the committee get information on how much the tax would raise, and more detailed costs of the jail should be available before the committee approaches the cities.

He speculated that the local option tax would raise about one million dollars annually. At that rate it will take about seven years to pay for the construction of the new facility.

Holden said about half that much would be raised by property taxes, meaning it would take 15 to 20 years to pay off the facility.

In a motion offered by Doug Tindal, the committee supported using the local option sales tax solely to fund the new facility for as long as that takes.

Gary Stewart, Ainsworth, said he felt that the people of his committee could support the local option sales tax if 100 percent is going to pay for the jail, especially if it will retire the debt so much sooner.

Costs

Updated information from PCS, puts the estimated cost of the new facility at $4,993,115. This includes $526,800 in related costs of housing prisoners and temporary quarters for the sheriff’s office staff. Estimated cost of construction is $4,466,315.

The related costs for one year during the construction period includes rental space, $21,000; utilities/ maintenance of 3,500 SF, $4,900; relocate phones and computers, $22,750; for a subtotal of sheriff’s office moving, $48,650.

Costs for the housing of inmates out-of-county were projected at $401,219 (20 inmates for 365 days at $55 a day), $34,219 for transportation labor and $42,431 for vehicle maintenance for subtotal of $478,150.

Sheriff Yale Jarvis said he would like to see all costs related to building at the present site and a “green space “ site (probably 12th and 7th in Washington). He expressed concern about the load there would be on his staff having to work in temporary facilities during the one to one and a half year construction phase of a new facility at the present site. “I want to see all the true costs out in front of the people,” Jarvis stressed.

“I’m concerned about holding together my staff (during the construction phase),” he added.

Jarvis also urged further consideration to moving the communications tower to another location, or a redesign that would increase the proposed second floor jail to 48 prisoner beds. He also expressed concern about the downtown location not permitting expansion in 20 to 30 years, if needed.

Location

The committee’s informal poll supported keeping the safety center at its present location by a 45.8 percent margin. Only 38.5 percent favored a different location. The rest didn’t comment on location.

The committee has already decided to recommend construction at the present site. County Supervisor Virginia Bordwell said after the meeting she too would like to see an overall cost comparison of the two sites. She said she still favors a “green space” site, but would fully support whatever the committee recommends.