BUILDING, GROUNDS AND JAIL COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

August 21, 2007

 

A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners’ Building, Grounds and Jail Committee was held on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.  Commissioner Timmer called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with a quorum present.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                          Richard Timmer and Earl Kay

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:                            Ted Postula

 

OTHERS PRESENT:                             Chuck Leonhardt and Kelly Beaune, Recorder

 

Additions / Deletions to the Agenda

Commissioner Timmer called for additions or deletions to the agenda.

 

It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner Kay, to approve the agenda as presented.  On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

Public Comments

Commissioner Timmer called for pubic comments.  No public comments were offered.

 

Agenda Items: Jail Expansion

Per Board of Commissioners request, answers regarding the debt service, maintenance fund and additional borrowed monies for a potential jail expansion (56 beds), as well as, ballot language were discussed.  Bond counsel Joel Piell of Miller Canfield was contacted and asked the following questions: 1) Can the County use debt service cash? 2) Can the County borrow from the General Fund or the DTRF? 3) Can the County use Maintenance fund cash?  The answers from Mr. Piell were all yes, and gave the County specific options that were previously discuss by a workshop committee.  The Committee further discussed increased expenses including six full time equivalents with benefits for five of those positions; increased utilities, prison board and doctor fees.  The Committee discussed additional short term contracts for other counties to increase revenue with a need to break even with the expansion.  The County would need to house 28 beds with federal prisoners, for the potential expansion to breakeven.  The Committee discussed other UP Counties that are looking to expand but don’t have the funding available. 

 

 

It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, supported by Commissioner Kay, to proceed with the proposed jail expansion. On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

Committee and Chairperson’s Comments

No additional comments were offered. 

 

Adjourn

It was moved by Commissioner Timmer, seconded by Commissioner Kay, to adjourn the meeting.  On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

 

Chairman Kay declared the meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m. 

 

 

 

__________________________________                                     __________________________________

Kelly J. Beaune, Recorder                                                            Richard Timmer, Committee Member