Looking To Improve
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Despite the fact that Kosciusko County Council was talking about the future of the county Monday, the public didn't seem interested, as there were only two or three members of the public present at the council's special meeting.
The 6 p.m. meeting was to discuss the financing of the Justice Building project and to adopt a resolution authorizing the publication of a notice of public hearing and the formation of a building corporation. All objectives were unanimously approved.
Also unanimously approved was an additional appropriation of $2.2 million from the $5.6 million cumulative capital fund to buy Lake City Inn. The Inn will become home to the work release program and temporarily to the probation department and several offices.
Kosciusko County commissioners today approved the purchase for $2.2 million. However, commissioner Brad Jackson, citing soil problems in the area, asked for an engineer's inspection of the building before the contract is signed.
Appraisers value the property between $2.2 million and $2.3 million. The county will buy the building from Focus Inc., Valparaiso, which also owns Holiday Express in Warsaw.
"We're not going to do any remodeling," said county administrator Ron Robinson. "We're going to remove the frills." He also said there will be no signs indicating what the building is used for.
"You're going to see what you see today," Robinson told the council.
Security equipment used in the current work release facilities will be used for the new facilities. Each room will house four inmates. The entire building has the potential to house 240 inmates. Once Lake City Inn becomes available for work release, the county can add 60 more inmates to the program because of the number of inmates on the waiting list.
In 1998, with 36 inmates on the work release program, Robinson said the county made $136,000.
Robinson said there are no immediate plans to buy new equipment for the new facilities but, if needed, equipment purchases would be minimal. Any work that needs to be completed will most likely be done by inmates. Once work release begins incorporating females into the program, Robinson said, female jailers will need to be hired.
"If we purchase this (building), we plan to use the south half for work release. We'll move the probation department into the north half (while construction continues at the Justice Building)," Robinson said.
Randy Rompola, attorney with Baker & Daniels, South Bend, gave a presentation to the council on the Justice Building expansion financing.
Including construction, soft costs, a million-dollar financial cushion and capital interest, the project will cost an estimated $24.3 million through lease financing. After completion of the project, the county will pay the debt by paying an estimated $1.4 million a year for 20 years.
In comparison, the current Justice Building cost $5 million and was paid off in eight years, Robinson said.
Before any actual costs are determined, however, a schedule of events will occur. The first step was taken by the council Monday when they passed the resolution for public hearings on the jail expansion.
The resolution states, in part, that because a need exists for improvements to the Justice Building and because funds needed exceed funds available, the county council recommends and authorizes the county commissioners to take the necessary steps to secure the construction of improvements to the Justice Building facility. The council also approved the formation of a not-for-profit corporation for such purposes.
Today, the commissioners are expected to set the dates and times of public hearings on the Justice Building expansion. After two public hearings, the state tax board will review the figures in the fall.
Council member Jim Tranter asked Rompola if a study was conducted on the impact of the county tax rate. "Impacting property taxes is not always the answer," he said.
Rompola and county commissioner attorney Mike Miner said the only known ways to generate funds to pay for the project were either through property taxes or the implementation of the economic development income tax.
Council president Brad Tandy said, "Setting EDIT aside, is there anyway to fund this other than raising property taxes?"
He was told there was not.
Tranter then asked Rompola if the project could be constructed in three phases rather than all at once. Rompola said the big issue was the bonds. Bond are at their lowest point since the 1960s and in two years, they are not likely to remain as low.
"The cost of trying to do it piecemeal would not be (feasible)," said Miner.
Rompola told the council that by passing the resolution Monday, they are not yet committed to the project.
"The only time the county would become bound is when the bonds are sold," he said. [[In-content Ad]]
Despite the fact that Kosciusko County Council was talking about the future of the county Monday, the public didn't seem interested, as there were only two or three members of the public present at the council's special meeting.
The 6 p.m. meeting was to discuss the financing of the Justice Building project and to adopt a resolution authorizing the publication of a notice of public hearing and the formation of a building corporation. All objectives were unanimously approved.
Also unanimously approved was an additional appropriation of $2.2 million from the $5.6 million cumulative capital fund to buy Lake City Inn. The Inn will become home to the work release program and temporarily to the probation department and several offices.
Kosciusko County commissioners today approved the purchase for $2.2 million. However, commissioner Brad Jackson, citing soil problems in the area, asked for an engineer's inspection of the building before the contract is signed.
Appraisers value the property between $2.2 million and $2.3 million. The county will buy the building from Focus Inc., Valparaiso, which also owns Holiday Express in Warsaw.
"We're not going to do any remodeling," said county administrator Ron Robinson. "We're going to remove the frills." He also said there will be no signs indicating what the building is used for.
"You're going to see what you see today," Robinson told the council.
Security equipment used in the current work release facilities will be used for the new facilities. Each room will house four inmates. The entire building has the potential to house 240 inmates. Once Lake City Inn becomes available for work release, the county can add 60 more inmates to the program because of the number of inmates on the waiting list.
In 1998, with 36 inmates on the work release program, Robinson said the county made $136,000.
Robinson said there are no immediate plans to buy new equipment for the new facilities but, if needed, equipment purchases would be minimal. Any work that needs to be completed will most likely be done by inmates. Once work release begins incorporating females into the program, Robinson said, female jailers will need to be hired.
"If we purchase this (building), we plan to use the south half for work release. We'll move the probation department into the north half (while construction continues at the Justice Building)," Robinson said.
Randy Rompola, attorney with Baker & Daniels, South Bend, gave a presentation to the council on the Justice Building expansion financing.
Including construction, soft costs, a million-dollar financial cushion and capital interest, the project will cost an estimated $24.3 million through lease financing. After completion of the project, the county will pay the debt by paying an estimated $1.4 million a year for 20 years.
In comparison, the current Justice Building cost $5 million and was paid off in eight years, Robinson said.
Before any actual costs are determined, however, a schedule of events will occur. The first step was taken by the council Monday when they passed the resolution for public hearings on the jail expansion.
The resolution states, in part, that because a need exists for improvements to the Justice Building and because funds needed exceed funds available, the county council recommends and authorizes the county commissioners to take the necessary steps to secure the construction of improvements to the Justice Building facility. The council also approved the formation of a not-for-profit corporation for such purposes.
Today, the commissioners are expected to set the dates and times of public hearings on the Justice Building expansion. After two public hearings, the state tax board will review the figures in the fall.
Council member Jim Tranter asked Rompola if a study was conducted on the impact of the county tax rate. "Impacting property taxes is not always the answer," he said.
Rompola and county commissioner attorney Mike Miner said the only known ways to generate funds to pay for the project were either through property taxes or the implementation of the economic development income tax.
Council president Brad Tandy said, "Setting EDIT aside, is there anyway to fund this other than raising property taxes?"
He was told there was not.
Tranter then asked Rompola if the project could be constructed in three phases rather than all at once. Rompola said the big issue was the bonds. Bond are at their lowest point since the 1960s and in two years, they are not likely to remain as low.
"The cost of trying to do it piecemeal would not be (feasible)," said Miner.
Rompola told the council that by passing the resolution Monday, they are not yet committed to the project.
"The only time the county would become bound is when the bonds are sold," he said. [[In-content Ad]]