Kay County Justice Facilities Authority

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Newkirk, Oklahoma

The Trustees of the Kay County Justice Facilities Authority (JFA) met in regular session at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 9, 2007, in Courtroom C on the third floor of the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk, Oklahoma. Notice of the meeting was posted for public information on May 8, 2007, at the Courthouse front door, Commissioners Court, Courtroom C, and basement handicapped entrance of the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk, Oklahoma.

Chairman Bruce Robinson called the meeting to order. Those present were as follows: Vice Chairman Carl Giddens; Trustees- Darrel Grossardt; Wes Young; Norris Frederick; Everette Van Hoesen; Trust Attorney David Cummings; Sharon Rowen, Ponca City News; Wayne White, Newkirk Herald Journal; Scott Pemberton and Buddy Thomas, Kay County Sheriff’s Deputies; Dean Courtwright, Commissioner-Noble County; Charlie Hanger, Noble County Sheriff; Christy Kennedy, Kay County Treasurer; Mary Ramey, Kay County Court Clerk; Laile Wilson, Kay County Commissioner; J.C. Estes, Kay County Excise Board; Will Clark, Assistant District Attorney and Patsy Leyva, Deputy County Clerk/Secretary. Dee Schieber and Anthony Street were absent. (See sign-in sheet).

Motion was made by Young and seconded by Giddens approving minutes from regular meeting held on April 25, 2007. Motion carried.

Sheriff Charlie Hanger and Commissioner Dean Courtwright from Noble County visited with the Authority and discussed Noble County’s Jail Project.

Hanger commented that he visited Jails & Juvenile Detentions Centers in Arkansas and Tennessee, talked with Judges to get their views and then talked with Architects and set up three to four month planning sessions to determine just what their County needed. The sales tax proposal of ¾ cent with an indefinite tax was defeated by the voters in 2004, so they waited and in 2005 asked voters for a ten year sales tax and it passed. The Noble County Jail will be a 48 bed facility, with pods having slight expansion capabilities at a cost of $3.8 million. Building began January 2007 and the anticipated completion is January 2008. Noble County’s Jail will be one block west of Courthouse on property which was donated to the County. Sheriff’s Offices, County 911 Center (per agreement with Perry Police Department) will be in the new jail along with an arraignment room with video capabilities. Both Hanger and Courtwright suggested the geothermal heating and air conditioning, it is expensive but will pay for itself over time.

Giddens asked Hanger if they had looked into adding on to the old facility and was told that Don Garrison saw no way of adding on to the 1915 jail facility. Hanger advised the Authority that the ¾% sales tax had generated $608,000 well over the $550,000 that had been projected.

Robinson commented that the Kay County sales tax would build and operate the jail if we ever pass a sales tax in Kay County. All agreed that the communities must work together, it’s a safety issue for the public and the jail staff. Kay County needs a sales tax or the citizens of Kay County will pick up the expense in ad valorem taxes. The Authority thanked the Noble County Officials for coming.

Robinson said that he had contacted Rodney Bottoms, but was unable to reach Donald Jones and that Mr. Bottoms would be glad to talk to anyone who wished to do so.

Giddens commented that he would rather that Robinson talk with Bottoms and inform the Authority.

David Cummings talked with Voorhis Association and presented Authority with Scope of Work Proposal.

Cummings suggested that the Authority assign three people to each candidate and talk with them, check their references and let the County Commissioners know who is the #one, #two, etc. choice and what it will cost.

Frederick noted that the Authority needed to be consistent with the questions so that the summaries will be equal.

Robinson suggested that they use the Voorhis Scope of Work as a guideline for the questions to the applicants.

The Authority appointed three sub committees:

1) Stieber, Norris and Street to talk with Rodney Bottoms

2) Van Hoesen, Giddens and Young to talk with Donald Jones

3) Robinson, Schieber and Grossardt to talk with Voorhis Association.

Visitation to the Osage County jail facility was discussed. Van Hoesen liked their facility. Van Hoesen mentioned that he did not like the dorm system, he likes the cells.

Stieber and Robinson began discussing the absence of a member and asked if he needed to be replaced.

Clark advised the Authority that they needed to stick to agenda items and add any new items to the next meeting’s agenda.

There being no new business, motion was made by Grossardt and seconded by Van Hoesen to adjourn (3:40 p.m.)

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Approved this _____ day of __________, 2007.

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Bruce Robinson, Chairman

Attest:

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Tammy Reese, County Clerk

County of Kay, State of Oklahoma

Secretary, Kay County Justice Facilities Authority

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