(Clarinda) — Preparations proceed for a potential bond difficulty referendum for a brand new jail facility in Web page County.
At its common assembly Tuesday morning, the Web page County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from a potential undertaking supervisor. Officers with the Samuels Group outlined the providers the agency would supply to the county on planning for a future bond difficulty vote. Amongst different issues, the corporate would function a building supervisor for the undertaking, and supply a communications plan to promote the voters on the referendum. Firm proprietor Sid Samuels advised the board the agency would supply a real evaluation of what the county wants today–and within the future–in phrases of a brand new facility.
“On the completion of this work, we will offer you a examine,” stated Samuels, “we will offer you the options, so we have finished a reasonably deep dive into what your wants are. We have provide you with an answer into what we really feel would work for at this time, and into the subsequent 20 years, is the objective, and supply enough house for that, or a grasp plan.”
Jail services in Dallas and Guthrie counties are amongst these listed underneath the corporate’s portfolio when it comes to previous initiatives. Samuels boasted the corporate’s observe report.
“Up to now, we’re undefeated,” he stated. “We do not get into this stuff to do it a couple of times or thrice, we get into that to do it as soon as. I feel we have finished a reasonably good job, and I feel our resume would communicate for that. I feel crucial could be, in the event you discuss to these references, is the private connection that we’ve.”
Samuels says the county has a “sturdy and compelling” argument that the present facility would not meet the Iowa Division of Corrections’ requirements, and is unable to carry categorized inmates individually.
“You, as a county, are being confronted with all types of individuals, with all types of dynamics that come into your county each single day,” stated Samuels, “and also you’re asking the sheriff and the workers to maintain them separated, maintain them protected, maintain them all the time protected and do a very good job at it. And, your facility proper now is just not within the place to do this.”
Supervisor Jacob Holmes expressed issues over the potential prices of a jail undertaking, saying taxpayers do not wish to pay for a flowery facility. Saying he is not a “thrills particular person,” County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says he needs a facility that is secure and practical. He additionally voiced help for a wants evaluation that the corporate would supply.
“Initially, I feel we have to do a wants evaluation of what’s there,” stated Palmer, “only for the easy incontrovertible fact that, if I used to be $50,000 out of my very own pocket for one thing, I wish to know I am getting. I wish to make certain it is prepared for the longer term with the plans that we’ve, if we want a brand new jail, why do we want a brand new jail. I feel that is essential to the taxpayer. As soon as we get down the street as to what we will do, that is one thing else.”
Supervisors Chair Chuck Morris says the consensus is that the county wants a brand new jail. Morris added the county present would not have the experience to develop a undertaking by itself.
“It is a marathon, it isn’t a dash,” stated Morris. “That is essential to remember. No matter we do, we wish to do it proper, we wish to do it effectively, we wish to do it as economically as we will. Sadly, anyway we lower, this undertaking goes to price the taxpayers some huge cash.”
Beneath the proposed skilled providers contract, the county would pay as much as $40,000 for the undertaking’s first part, which entails the corporate working with Palmer and board members to develop requests for proposals–or RFPs–for architectural companies. After additional dialogue, the board took no motion on the proposal. Morris says the supervisors will contact the corporate’s references earlier than making a call.
