County jail issue will soon be in the hands of citizens

Decision Day is nearing on the proposed Red Willow County Jail and the possible city-county public safety center.

After studying the issue for two years, the Jail Task Force is within a few weeks of concluding their work and offering a recommendation to the Red Willow County Commissioners about how to proceed.

The showdown, so to speak, will take place three weeks from today: on Wednesday, Jan. 25. At that time, the task force will consider two options.

First, they will hear from city of McCook representatives to determine if the city is interested in joining with Red Willow County to establish a jail and public safety center.

Then, second, the task force will decide how to go forward. If the city chooses not to participate, the task force will focus attention on the jail and sheriff's office, with a strong possibility that the issue would be placed on the May 9 primary election ballot.

"We do not want the extra expense of a special election," said Task Force chairman Reuben Hoff Jr. "That's why we're aiming at the May 9 primary."

But, if the city chooses to participate in the safety center and jail project, the timeline changes. "If the city participates, we will have a number of other things to consider," Hoff said. That's because other funding sources would be available through state and federal police and fire programs.

"If it's a city-county project, we probably couldn't have a bond proposal ready in time for the primary election," the task force chair said. Since the task force wants to avoid a special election, that would push the jail and/or safety center election to the Nov. 7 general election.

"I'm very proud of the task force for the work they've put into this project," Hoff said. "Our goal all along has been to get good information for the public so they can decide the issue. I think we have done that. Our work is nearly done. Soon, the issue will be in the hands of the people."