Timing of jail vote depends on city role

If the City of McCook decides not to cooperate with Red Willow County on a new joint public safety center, the county-only jail issue most likely will go before voters in the primary election May 9.

However, County Commissioner Earl McNutt said during a regular commissioners' meeting Monday morning, if City Council members agree to the become a part of the project, voters probably won't get a final say-so until the general election in November.

If City Council members agree to a joint project, McNutt said, "There will be more issues to iron out."

Reuben Hoff Jr., chairman of the county's jail task force, told commissioners, "If the city gives us a 'yes,' there's no way we can make the May 9 election."

Hoff said City Council members have had the information they requested on building construction and operational costs since about Friday, and will discuss it at a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 31. Hoff has asked for a final answer from the city -- in or out, yes or no -- by Monday, Feb. 20.

A joint city-county facility -- if approved by voters -- would include a Red Willow County jail and sheriff's office and a City of McCook police department and fire department.

If the city decides not to participate, the facility -- again, if it is approved by voters -- would include the county jail and sheriff's office.

Daniel Smith and Paul Grieger, representatives of a prospective bonding agent, Kirkpatrick Pettis of Omaha, told commissioners that bonds for a county jail/sheriff's office estimated to cost $5 million would be repaid over 20 years. The estimated annual payment would be $390,000. The projected bond levy per $100 of valuation would be $0.0649 (6 1/2 cents).

The project would cost more if the city becomes involved, even though, Hoff said, there are "amazing shared-costs savings of a joint facility."

Commissioners made no decision Monday about hiring Kirkpatrick Pettis to help with the bond election, wanting, instead, to wait until after a jail task force meeting Wednesday and until after City Council members make a final decision.

The jail task force meeting Wednesday is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the commissioners' room on the third floor of the courthouse in McCook. A topic of discussion will be a recommendation on a location for a proposed facility. At the top of the list of potential sites is land on West Q owned by McCook Public Schools and used for bus parking.

Hoff encourages members of the public to attend the meeting to offer input on the process thus far.

"We can't lose sight of the purpose of the jail task force," Hoff said. "And that was to determine, in Phase I, if there is a need for a county jail, and, in Phase II, to determine construction and operational costs for the county, and for the city, if it wants to be included.

"After the meeting Wednesday, the jail task force will have fulfilled its charge," Hoff said.