The cost to construct a 2-story county safety center/jail at its present site in downtown Washington is about $4,466,315, according to Randy Lampe, Professional Construction Services (PCS), Houghton.

Lampe presented the following breakdown to the Safety Center Citizen’s Study Committee meeting at the Ainsworth Fire Station Monday evening, May 24:

Demolition of old center

…………………………$75,000

Jail (14,216 SF)

……………………………………….1,850,000

Jail Support (5,184 SF)

……………………………598,200

Safety Center (9,279 SF)

………………………….835,100

E-911 (952 SF)

……………………………………….100,000

Total SF 29,631

…………………………………….$3,381,300

Site Improvement

………………………………….$47,500

Architect/Engineer

…………………………………..265,000

Project Management

………………………………..120,000

On-Site Supervision

…………………………………97,500

Equipment/Furnishings

…………………………….67,850

Video Court

……………………………………………50,000

Contingency

…………………………………………..362,165

Subtotal

……………………………………………….$4,468,315

These estimated costs would not include equipment for the Communications Center. Some of that equipment is already being updated with proceeds from the E-911 surcharge on telephone bills.

On June 29 there will be a special election to approve adding another 50 cents to the E911 fee for a two year period of time. The fee would bring in an estimated $60,000 more in funds that can be used on radio and communications equipment. It would go into effect 60 days after voter approval.

Lampe noted that the proposed facility is 4,900 square feet more than the plan proposed last year. That “green space” plan was estimated to have cost about $3.8 million plus $900,000 for communications equipment. Lampe estimated it would cost about 10% more due to higher building costs or nearly the same as the proposed 2-story facility at the downtown location.

In answer to a citizen’s question, Lampe said the estimated square foot cost would be $114.11. That compares with $140 to $160 square foot cost of one-story jail facilities.

In answer to another question, Lampe said the exterior of the facility would be masonry and designed to compliment the recently renovated courthouse. He added the second floor would include about a 2,500 square foot unfinished area that could be designed for additional jail space. The plan calls for certain utilities to be installed to cut down on future expansion costs.

Lampe said the facility would have 18 cells for males, 8 for females, 3 for male maximum security, 2 for female maximum security, 2 for special status and 6 work release. There would also be one detox and two holding cells.

Functionality

Sheriff Yale Jarvis stated there still needs to be a closer look at the functionality of the proposed design. The rough plan calls for the building to be built around the communications tower in order to save the estimated $60,000 to move the tower.

Jarvis speculated at least eight more jail cells could be added if the building was squared off, with the tower at another location. Lampe agreed that moving the tower could allow for 8 to 16 more cells and create better operation economy.

Lampe said the “race track design” allows jailers to have a view of every cell. There would be special glazed glass instead of bars. The rest of the jail area would be cement and cement blocks covered with epoxy paint for ease of maintenance.

In answer to questions by Jim Wood, Lampe said the jail area would not be a “Conrad Hilton”. He said the jail area would have to meet state standards, but they would not be plush. Wood stressed that no one wants plush facilities for prisoners. Lampe agreed. He did add that the county sheriff and police administration areas would have better construction.

Lampe said the building design is durable with no frills in the jail area. It would meet minimum state regulations and it will be designed to maximize low maintenance.

Concern was raised about costs of relocating the prisoners and administrative areas during the construction phase which is estimated to take ten months. Lampe noted the plan calls for construction of the area for the Communications and E911 Center first so there would not be any interruption in emergency services. A place could also be finished to handle part of the sheriff’s staff.

Jarvis said it costs about $50 to $60 a day to have a prisoner housed in another county. Committee member Doug Tindal agreed it would be expensive to house prisoners elsewhere during the construction, but the cost savings of having the safety center next to the courthouse would more than offset those costs over a 15 to 20 year period.

Financing

Supervisor Raymond Lasek informed the group that the supervisors had visited with Mercantile Bank about cost of a lease purchase of the facility. Lasek said the county could spend about $400,000 annually without a special vote. At that rate, it would take 15 years to pay off a lease for a $4 million facility and 22.5 years for a $5 million facility.

Lasek said he would favor a bond issue as the interest rate would be less and payoff would be shorter.

Brian Hora suggested that the committee revisit the one per cent local option tax question again with 100 per cent of the tax going to retire the debt. At about $1.1 million a year, the facility could be paid off in less than five years.

Considering that there was only 27 per cent voter approval last year, chairman Harvey Holden questioned if the local option sales tax would pass. Hora said he would campaign against a bond issue as the rural property owners would be picking up 70 per cent of the costs. He added that was why rural residents voted against the local option sales tax: over 67 per cent of the cost would come from money allocated for rural residents.

Straw poll

The committee agreed to have a questionaire published in county newspapers and discussed other means to get feedback from the public about methods of financing and support for the new safety center.

Doug Tindal and Dean Kurtz are to develop the questionnaire/straw poll. Plans call for the results of the questionnaire to be ready for the next meeting will be held at the Riverside Community Center at 7 p.m. June 14. A meeting was also scheduled for 7 p.m. June 28 in Brighton.