The Greene County supervisors at their Feb. 13 meeting approved bids for the new jail and moving forward with the new HVAC system at the courthouse.
Both projects have been discussed at length over the last several weeks. County treasurer Katlynn Mechaelsen provided cash flow projections, including interest revenue from funds now being held for them and cash on hand. DCI Group, construction manager at risk for the jail project, provided a pay schedule.
Mechaelsen showed to the supervisors’ satisfaction that both the jail and the HVAC project can be done without raising tax levies. She also showed the county can maintain a cash balance of $1 million, even with doing the projects.
The supervisors had two bids to consider for the jail – a base bid of $10,954,000, and an alternate bid with two extra cells and heated sally port for $11,367,300.
“We’ve got to have a new jail,” supervisor Pete Bardole said. “I’m concerned that we’re over budget by a lot even before we start. If we go with the one we’re talking about, we’re $1.3 or $1.4 over the budget, and we haven’t even started. There’s going to be other stuff. They’re going to say ‘we didn’t know about this’ or whatever.”
Board chair John Muir said the project isn’t over budget, but that costs have increased since the bond issue was approved two years ago.
“It (the jail bond) passed at $10 (million)… The citizens said they were at $10. Now we’re going to say we’re at $11.4. That gives me some heartburn because if we end at $11.4 I’ll be surprised,” Bardole answered.
Supervisor Dan Benitz lobbied for the alternate bid, saying people had told him to go with the higher alternative. “We’re doing our citizens an injustice if we don’t do the $11.3 (million project) We’re never going to get the cells any cheaper, and that garage, that’s important.”
Bardole said he hasn’t heard anyone say ‘no’, “but I know I’ll hear when taxes go up.”
Supervisor Joe Gannon said he is “cautiously optimistic” the county can stay in the jail budget.
“All the information we’re getting is that number-wise, we can make this work, even with the alternate,” Muir said.
The board unanimously approved a motion to accept the bid alternate of $11,367,300.
The supervisors have some time before making a final commitment on the HVAC project. The project as it’s proposed necessitates replacing the roof because the chillers for the cooling system will be there. Total cost of the project is $3,122,000. Of that, $1.9 million will be paid for by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Heidi Kuehl of BBS Architects will attend the supervisors’ March 3 meeting to talk the supervisors through the next steps. The supervisors will hold a public hearing on the project March 31. After that hearing, voters have 30 days to submit a petition to put a bond sale for project on a ballot.
If no petition is received, the supervisors will hold another public hearing May 5 and approve bids for the project. Without an election, the project will be paid for by transferring from the Local Option Sales & Service Tax (LOSST) fund into the general basic fund.
If voters call for an election, a question would be on the November city/school election.
“Of all the options we’ve discussed over the years, I really like the project now. I feel good about it,” supervisor Dawn Rudolph said.
“It’s time to move forward,” Benitz said. ”We’ve kicked the can for 30 years.”
