Letter to the Editor

Let the citizens decide on jail

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

To begin, I would like to express admiration and respect for the Red Willow County Commissioners, Earl McNutt, Steve Downer and Vesta Dack; former commissioner Leigh Hoyt; and the Red Willow County Sheriff, Gene Mahon. They are good people who are dedicated to serving the citizens of Red Willow County.

I would also like to pay tribute to Allen Strunk, publisher emeritus of the McCook Daily Gazette and my boss when I joined the staff of the newspaper in 1961. Allen, who I regard as one of McCook's foremost leaders and visionaries, taught me to:

1. Study community issues thoroughly;

2. Reach a conclusion which you believe is in the best interests of the community, and:

3. Stand up for your belief no matter what the personal consequences might be.

After that long introduction, I'm sure you know where I'm heading. So I'll get right to the point. I believe the new Red Willow County Jail should not be built north of the courthouse.

I started thinking that way because I'm a Field Representative for Heritage Nebraska, an organization dedicated to celebrating our state's history. It is my view, and that of the members of the Heritage Nebraska board, that there are much better uses for the county property north of the courthouse than as the site for a county jail.

Other citizens have a different view, and I respect that.

However, because of research done by Dale Dueland and others, the citizens of Red Willow County now have a much more compelling reason to move the jail site from Norris Avenue to a site adjacent to the Work Ethic Camp. The northwest McCook site is as economical as the Norris Avenue site and has the potential to substantially reduce the cost of jail facilities in the future. Why is this? It is because the Norris Avenue site is only a little over a half-block long and does not have the capability for expansion, while the northwest McCook site consists of a number of acres offering an abundance of space for growth.

As citizens, our major responsibility is to take care of the place we call home, just as our parents and grandparents did in their day. Red Willow County was organized in 1873 and McCook was established in 1882. Both have a proud history. Now we need to think ahead, asking ourselves what will serve us best now and serve our children and grandchildren best in the years to come.

As we face up to our obligations, we need to be mindful of the dramatic changes which are taking place in America's jails and prisons. In many locations, there is a shortage of space for prisoners and, as a result, some county, state and federal governments are doing one of two things to avoid overcrowding: (1) Releasing prisoners early; or: (2) Renting cell space from other jail and prison facilities.

It is true that Nebraska has not yet fully faced up to the jail facility issue, but wise and prudent leadership will require that Nebraska's leaders do so in the not too distant future. As an example of the use of jail facilities as an economic development technique, we need look no further than Akron, the seat of government in Washington County, Colorado. Washington County, located 149 miles west of McCook, has 6,000 population, which is 5,000 less that Red Willow County.

Ten years ago, in 2002, Washington County opened a 250-bed jail facility which houses Washington County prisoners and rents space to state and federal penal systems. The person who oversees the Washington County Jail is Sheriff Larry Kuntz, a former resident of the Wauneta area. Dale Dueland and I have spoken with Larry. He's a friendly person and would be glad to host a delegation from Red Willow County to show the potential for a rental jail facility.

The important thing for the citizens of Red Willow County to realize is that it's not too late to change the jail location. We have already waited many years while the city and county tried to come up with a solution. There is no need to rush to a decision because the City of McCook Holding Facility was inspected Feb. 8 and was approved to house prisoners throughout 2012 and in the early months of 2013.

All I'm asking is for the Red Willow County Commission to give citizens on both sides of the jail site question the opportunity to thoroughly investigate, analyze and present the advantages and disadvantages of jail sites.

Otherwise, a number of us are going to think that the jail site decision was rammed down our throats. We are not only being denied the right to vote, we are not even being given the privilege, as citizens, to present our views. That's wrong and it will cause hard feelings and disharmony.

I appeal to the commissioners' sense of fair play. Let the people speak.

The jail site question needs to be discussed fully and openly. And,finally, the jail issue needs to be decided by a vote of the people.

That's how democracy works. We, the people, should have the final say.

Comments
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  • I already voted for a commissioner and it appears to have been a good choice so far. Keep up the good work.

    -- Posted by hometown1 on Wed, Mar 28, 2012, at 1:16 PM
  • Gene,

    For Mr. Dueland's numbers to be even close to being credible, someone needs to call the State of Nebraska Dept. of Corrections and ask when the Red Willow County Commissioners can expect the 20 year contract for 36 beds per year to house WEC prisoners for this new project. Until they confirm that, the entire exercise presented this past Monday is academic and pure speculation. Furthermore it is creating a lot of misinformation, which I suspect is the ultimate goal to derail the plan to build the facility north of the courthouse.

    Isn't is interesting that everyone that is against this location doesn't care about the number one reason to build on the Norris site and that is the PUBLIC SAFETY aspect of this location.

    With all due respect the citizens of McCook did speak when they voted for their own facility in 2010, without the county, funded with the their local sales tax.

    -- Posted by Todd Cappel on Wed, Mar 28, 2012, at 3:26 PM
  • I would wager to say a great many people voted for our current president that weren't aware that their vote would include a multi-trillion dollar deficit to follow.

    How was that vote issue worded again Todd?

    A vote AGAINST the McCook Municipal Facility will reject the proceedings to build a new public safety center and administration offices.

    A vote FOR the McCook Municipal Facility will allow the proceedings of construction to house a new public safety center, administration offices, and by extension condone the county of Red Willow Nebraska to proceed without public majority consent to build a new jail located north of the current Red Willow County courthouse.

    I'll be..... you may be right Todd, I didn't realize that I voted for that.

    Just for the record..... because I apparently don't read between the lines proficiently, what else did I vote for with that, and does anyone know the Psychic Hotline number so I might be better prepared for the next election.

    I know where I went wrong on this misconception of mine..... when the City asked the County if they would like to join forces and the County declined, I made the apparent poor assumption that the County didn't feel that it was necessary to take part in the construction of a new jail facility.

    Now that you've spelled it out Todd, its crystal clear!

    Thanks for the insight. I've always made politics so hard to understand in my own mind when in reality, everything is so transparent.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Thu, Mar 29, 2012, at 6:10 PM
  • Dennis, (As their is no Nick Mercy in McCook, NE, I believe this is the mayor of McCook)

    Where was the city during the joint facility in 2006 that was proposed but the County Commissioners? Against it. I don't know why. I believe the fig leaf offered in May of 2010 was just to get it on record but wasn't truly sincere. This is my opinion.

    To have the vote on the new Red Willow County facility location would result in the same thing, force the county out of McCook. I have stated it before this is the result of the city and county not working together. If those that voted for the new City of McCook facility truly understood what the plan of the city facilities were they might have though about this differently. Funny thing is that the city had the vote in 2010 and didn't actually have a finalized plan. I actually think this will be better in the long run to have the new facility on Norris because of the public safety aspect.

    You also voted in 2007 to give the city a blank check with the local sales tax.

    The residents outside the city of McCook and in Red Willow County are only good for one thing it appears and that is paying sales taxes when they come to town.

    Keep going because were just getting started, Mr. Mercy.

    -- Posted by Todd Cappel on Thu, Mar 29, 2012, at 6:49 PM
  • "If those that voted for the new City of McCook facility truly understood what the plan of the city facilities were they might have though about this differently.". Why wouldn't EVERYONE know that voting "for" the City Facility would mean the county would be forced to build a jail? You said it yourself Todd, " the citizens of McCook did speak when they voted for their own facility in 2010, without the county, funded with the their local sales tax.". Its pretty cut and dry right? Heck, you voted for it, tell me honestly, when you voted for it, were you thinking to yourself, "Oh boy, I wonder how much the new jail is going to cost.".

    And bleeding hearts of the world unite! "Oh those poor folks that live outside the city limits are only good for their sales tax money" (I paraphrase) well if that's not the woe is me syndrome I don't know what is. I have all kind of uses for people that live outside the city limits. Some drive truck for me, and I in return pay them. Some provide me with grains and vegetables, and I in return pay them. Some even meet up with me to play cards and we share good times. When someone with the woe is my syndrome gets a sliver, the story is that they nearly had to have stitches. Is that you Todd. Poor me, I have to pay city sales tax. Guess what..... me to, and believe me when I say that most of the city sales tax that I spend stays as local as a 45 to 60 mile radius. You have to pay property tax? Hey, me too! How in the world are you in worse shape than anyone else? As a matter of fact, because you don't live within the city limits, you are closer to somewhere else, I'm smack dab in the City of McCook, if I don't like it here, it takes me more effort to get away.

    How about we put away the City sales tax argument, because if need be, I will give you multiple cities within 45 to 60 minutes from McCook that also have sales tax, and you'll be expected to pay it there too.

    Back to the jail issue.... Does the county need a new jail? In my opinion it does, but as you have indicated yourself, I am wrong. You don't agree with me so in your eyes, I am wrong. So just because I say we need one, doesn't mean that is the popular consensus, (because I'm wrong). Just because the State of Nebraska says the county doesn't need to ask the citizens in order to build, doesn't mean that its the right thing to do. Not all that different from an officer of the law being able to enter a home uninvited just because the door is open. The officer has the right, but it doesn't mean they or anyone should just enter your home without being invited.

    But thanks for clearing everything up Todd, like I said earlier, its as obvious as the nose on my face what I voted for in 2010.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Thu, Mar 29, 2012, at 9:59 PM
  • Mr. Mercy,

    Isn't it nice to have different opinions on issues rather than just one all powerful politician telling you what to think? Obviously my opinions on this matter have really irritated you. I am not afraid to attached my name to them either on this site or on my Open Forum pieces. That is a lot more transparent than working through surrogates and anonymous names on this site.

    I asked for it before, provide all of the evidence that suggests that the voters of both the 2007 and 2010 issues for the city of McCook had all of the information needed to make an informed choice in these matters. I still haven't seen anything that would clear this up. I have been told that the local sales tax vote of 2007 was always going to be used to build the city facility and were common knowledge in certain circles in McCook .

    The record is clear as to my thoughts on the 2007 sales tax vote and since the money is now being spent for things that were not widely and publicly discussed prior to the vote, I do feel that is somewhat disingenuous. It is my opinion and at this time I do not have to be forced to accept your positions on these matters. I do not expect nor demand that you to agree with me, I am just offering another viewpoint on the matter.

    Once again Nick, you took the information in my last paragraph of my initial post and are outraged. I do believe that these discussions are the untended consequences of the votes in favor of the city of McCook through the sales tax vote and the new city only facility.

    It is a simple opinion being offered through the local paper and certain people, like Nick and dennis, go nuts.

    Keep running with this Nick and maybe the truth will surface someday, if it hasn't already.

    -- Posted by Todd Cappel on Fri, Mar 30, 2012, at 6:32 AM
  • Todd,It is a little curious that as informed as this Nick Mercy character is. He sure acts like he is informed about what's going on with all topics in the county, He's pretty elusive to the public! Haven't met one person who has a clue who he is! Sounds like somebody that's connected to me!! Keep fighting for the truth, I may not agree with some of the opinions you have, but you have the guts to print your name with everything you write! You have my respect and appreciation!

    -- Posted by smz on Fri, Mar 30, 2012, at 1:09 PM
  • The city offered a vote to the people on whether to build a new facility. We had a group of people who wanted to preserve West Ward because of historic significance but we never put the location to a vote of the people because we had researched various options and concluded that site was best for our facility, much like the county has done with the jail. They approached the city council and the council told them that they agreed that the city could not tell them where they could locate a jail but for some reason the issue of the location made up the overwhelming majority of what was discussed by the planning commission and the public at a city planning commission meeting despite the previous assurance from the council that they could not dictate the location of the jail.

    Now, the county is faced with the need for a jail and their is concern with detracting from historical significance. The Brooks apartment house is already gone so the only thing left to argue is that it would somehow be a detriment to the historical significance of Norris Avenue. The Red Willow County courthouse is a historical structure and a jail will not detract from it by being attached to it anymore than the renovations that have already taken place inside over the years. All other historic and potentially historic structures are not even on the same block as the jail and will remain untouched both literally and historically.

    Inmates have been going in and out of the historic courthouse in complete public view (under increased risk to officers,the public and the inmates themselves) for decades. This location was decided to be the safest and most practical option. I've seen the facility and believe it will be an aesthetic improvement to the neighborhood, dramatically increase the safety in transporting prisoners to and from the courthouse and allow the county to be in compliance with state law. The only downside is that a jail will have to pay more in property taxes to build it but I'd rather I pay now with the safest possible location rather than leave it for the next generation to pay or build in a place that leaves them cursing us for not increasing our ability to safely transport prisoners when we had a chance.

    The idea of building at another location with the state instead of building adjacent to the courthouse is a trade off of increased funding at the cost of increased safety and I would much prefer safety because no amount of funding can buy the safety benefits that come with the Norris location. That, of course, is pure assumption that the state would even use the facility at some unspecified time in the future because they've stated that is not something they are currently preparing to do, only that it is one of many options available to them.

    When the city had its water problems it was faced with objections causing it to go back and forth between the best options to solve their problem until they had to stand up and act with complete resolve. The county has tried transporting prisoners to other jails and even building a joint facility with the city. They've looked at rehabbing the sheriff's office, using the city jail facilities and various locations to build a new jail facility. They've weighed the options in multiple public meetings, decided on the best option and how to proceed in public meetings and now they must act with complete resolve to see the project through or else nothing will get done until we end up spending more time and money on a project that needs to stay on track. I applaud the commissioners who put in the hard work on this issue. I know it wasn't an easy decision but it was a necessary decision.

    -- Posted by Aaron Kircher on Fri, Mar 30, 2012, at 1:25 PM
  • Terrific post, Aaron. Very professional and well written.

    -- Posted by bntheredunthat on Fri, Mar 30, 2012, at 3:48 PM
  • Outraged? Hardly..... you don't actually effect me so much and I'll tell you why. You do a lot of talking Todd, but you just repeat yourself for the most part. The truth is, I don't have a problem with the new jail, nor the location. My point was that the commissioners didn't do the public a service by NOT allowing them to vote their wishes. Other than proclaiming how you are able to get under my skin and grinding on about my anonymity, I couldn't really find your point in your latest post. You certainly sidestepped the glaring topic that I laid out on the table which was why didn't the commissioners put this to vote? Instead you continue to continue about the City sales tax and how Nick Mercy is so agitated by your stunning ability to engage in debate. If I harbor ill-feelings toward you at all, I would say that it would be "frustration". Frustration due to the fact that my only point to be made during this entire posting has been that the county did not listen to the public opinion.

    @ smz: when you said " Sounds like somebody that's connected to me!!" Did you mean to say that it sounds like I'm connected to you? Or did you mean Sounds like somebody that's connected, ....... to me!! So far as I know, I am not associated with you, nor am I your Siamese twin. I had to read that a few times to get your intended meaning. I would say that I keep up with current events in our local venue, I'm not directly tied to any of these entities however. And I especially got a kick out of your praising of Todd's forthright identity, then assigning smz to your comment.

    I find humor in that, but to be clear..... my point of chiming in remains.....Why was majority concent of the public not allowed? It's a pretty straight forward question. I suppose the answer lies within the identity of Nick Mercy or perhaps the epic saga of the city sales tax will reveal that answer.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Fri, Mar 30, 2012, at 11:35 PM
  • I look at Aaron's comment and have to say that it makes sense and offers explanation. It was thought out and understandable. Todd, may I recommend that you have Aaron ghost write for you. I think you will have less repeating of yourself as people are able to see how you're tying your points together with the title subject.

    I kind of think that you tie everything to the city sales tax. I think the readers know that you are opposed to the sales tax; can we move on now please?

    -- Posted by Sandra M on Sat, Mar 31, 2012, at 9:35 AM
  • For the record: Dennis, I apologize for the general misconception that Nick Mercy is indeed you. I am also formally announcing that Nick Mercy is not on the McCook City Council. Nick Mercy is neither an employee of the City of McCook nor a member of the MEDC. Nick Mercy is NOT an employee of any level of government office, including the City, County, State or Federal branch.

    Nick Mercy IS a citizen of McCook NE and by extension Red Willow County and Nebraska as well.

    This information is provided so that Nick Mercy's comments will not be considered as those of any aforementioned entities.

    I just needed to clear that up and get it on the record so readers were not being railroaded into believing that Nick Mercy was commenting on behalf of any public official.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Sat, Mar 31, 2012, at 10:57 AM
  • Sandra M,

    In my opinion, the city sales tax is at the core of a lot of problems today in McCook and Red Willow County. Many will say I am wrong, but instead of solving a problem, it is creating more. When I spoke out against the expansion of the local sales tax in 2007 many on the council told me this had to be done to stop the population decline. Interesting isn't it?

    Nonetheless, you do make a good point and I appreciate the comment. In hindsight I should have left the sales tax comment out of my first post and stayed on topic. Don't know who you are Sandra M, but I respect your post. Besides, Aaron is too busy to ghost write for me.

    No more talk about the local sales tax until it is time to renew it. Maybe by that time enough people will figure out it needs to be shared between the city and the county to say in effect.

    I did find Aaron's comments in his entire post worthy and do agree that his post was well thought out. The last half of the first paragraph is the most interesting of Aaron's post, I would say.

    -- Posted by Todd Cappel on Sat, Mar 31, 2012, at 3:56 PM
  • nick put that same "disclaimer" on another page. trying to proove something nick? i said it before lying isn't becoming of a public official.

    -- Posted by BTWinecleff on Sat, Mar 31, 2012, at 9:15 PM
  • Do you have something to add BT, or do you continue to search for Nick Mercy comments? I believe we are attempting to stay on topic here. Perhaps you might shed some light on the theory of why the Red Willow County commissioners chose not to hear the voice of the people.

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Sun, Apr 1, 2012, at 11:26 PM
  • I say run for office you dont like the vote Gene Morris because area and city voters did vote by voting for current commissioners who have said for years Red Willow county needed a jail/spent time and money of studies, number of meeting for public imput and now again losers on other side of vote are trying to make a case for other locations or to revote again ?? Get over Geno you lose. Great job commissioners and mostly for sticking to your guns vs crumbling the first time someone or a group with a axe to grind writes a post/calls open line and get on with building the new jail 30 years late but going forward not backward..... Run for office if you dont like the vote...

    -- Posted by Cornwhisperer on Mon, Apr 2, 2012, at 1:23 PM
  • Nick! Or whoever you are! I think the people that read this are smart enough to know what I mean't. If you can't figure it out, then maybe you should move on to another subject! How about where the Mayors wife hangs her sign? I was under the impression that we as taxpayers, couldn't run a business out of our homes unless it was zoned

    accordingly? I'm sure you will come up with a good reason why this is legal! We would all like to know how this is supporting the community! Is this area zoned for her business? Or is this just a legality that is just overlooked? I'll bet someone will figure a way out of this one! Because we would'nt want our beloved mayor to have to resign for breaking the rules!! Maybe you can hire an outside law firm to make this right!!

    -- Posted by smz on Mon, Apr 2, 2012, at 1:38 PM
  • Smallz , I believe that issue has been addressed when Mr. Kircher and Mr. Hilker were under fire. I didn't really follow that topic much, but if you wish, I can delve into it and research the results to this zoning ordinance.

    I can't fathom why I would hire council to defend the Mayor, #1, its not my obligation to defend the Mayor or any of the City Council for that matter. #2, from what I understand, there was no zoning ordinances breached, but I commend you for attempting to further the "non topic" debate. Shall we discuss the price of tea in China now?

    -- Posted by Nick Mercy on Mon, Apr 2, 2012, at 10:17 PM
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