Supervisors set Nov. 8 bond issue vote for new jail

Public hearing set for $3.8 million comm tower

By Rick Morain
Jefferson Herald

The Greene County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 22 set a date for a bond issue for a new jail while a public meeting for a potentially expanded E911 countywide communication system was also ear-marked.

Additionally, the board heard a presentation from county attorney Thomas Laehn on the recodification of the county’s ordinances, including a new proposed ordinance on utility scale solar energy panel arrays in the county.
The board adopted a resolution calling for a bond issue election to be held at the Nov. 8 general election in regards to a new Greene County jail. If approved, the proposal would empower the county to issue general obligation (G.O.) capital loan notes in an amount not to exceed $12,685,000 to handle the costs for the new county jail.

The new facility would be located immediately south of the county’s law enforcement center on Lincoln Way at the east edge of Jefferson (the former office building of Midland Power Cooperative). The new jail would feature 20 prisoner cells and four holding cells, with the capability of incarcerating twice as many prisoners by installing bunk beds in the cells.
The bond issue election would require 60 percent approval by the voters in order to take effect. The estimated tax levy rate would be roughly $1.12 per thousand.
The board decided to change the flat roof from the jail’s original design to a peaked steel roof. The change is estimated to cost nearly a half million dollars, but it will extend the life expectancy of the roof from 20 years (for the flat roof) to 50 to 75 years (for the peaked roof).

Northland Securities is handling some of the details of the bond proposal. The consulting fee to be paid by the county to that firm will kick in only if the bonds are sold. It amounts to 0.4 percent of the amount of the bonds, which would compute to about $50,000. The fee is included in the total cost figure for the project.

Sheriff Jack Williams and the board of supervisors point to the fact that the present county jail, roughly 50 years old, holds only eight prisoners, and its configuration no longer meets state standards. It can’t be remodeled to  come up to those standards. The state can close an existing jail for failing to meet standards.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR $3.8 MILLION COMM TOWER

On a separate matter, the board adopted a resolution to set the date of Monday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m. for a public hearing on the board’s proposal to issue up to $3.8 million in general obligation capital loan notes to fund a new communications tower, estimated to require a 250-foot height, as well as new radio equipment for all emergency vehicles in Greene County.

Doug Hawn, Greene County E911 board secretary, explained that the new tower is needed in order to work with the state’s radio frequencies. No tower currently has enough height to do so.
The new communications equipment is defined as an “essential county purpose”. It therefore does not require a bond issue election; the board of supervisors can approve it following the public hearing.
Northland Securities will also serve the county on the new communications equipment, serving as underwriter, not as a financial adviser.

Hawn explained that the E911 service board plans to engage Ref Freeman Communications Consulting (RFCC) to represent the service board in its dealings with Motorola, the manufacturer of the communications equipment.
Jamie Daubendiek of Jefferson Telecom told the board that there are existing towers in the county, among which U.S. Cellular owns, that can be extended to the required height and therefore might meet the requirement, depending on the weight of the equipment. That would be an alternative to erecting a new tower.

SOLAR ORDINANCE

County attorney Thomas Laehn reviewed draft language that adds utility scale solar energy system provisions as a new county ordinance. The proposed comprehensive ordinance would establish the parameters of commercial solar panel arrays.

Under the proposed ordinance, permits for such solar arrays must be at least two miles from each other. They must be fenced. The panels must be at least 250 feet from property lines, 1,000 feet from dwelling units, 75 feet from right-of-way lines, 1,000 feet from conservation and wildlife management areas, 500 feet from buildings, and 500 feet from cemeteries. They must minimize glare and damage to drainage districts, and must have a landscape plan.
Under the ordinance, construction of a commercial solar array can’t begin until its application is approved by the county.
The proposed ordinance is based on one developed by Webster County. The setback distances are similar to those in effect in Adair County.
Greene County currently has a moratorium on construction of commercial solar panel arrays which expires at noon on Monday, Sept. 26. The county plans to deal with the proposed ordinance in time for it to take effect about the time the moratorium expires.

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