Kay County Justice Facilities Authority
The Trustees of the Kay County Justice Facilities Authority
(JFA) met in special session at
Chairman Bruce Robinson called the meeting to order. Those present were as follows: Trustees – Norris Frederick; Carl Giddens; Jim
Stieber; Everette Van Hoesen, Kay County Sheriff; Laile Wilson, Kay County
Commissioner; Wes Young; Don Jones, Jail Consultant; Attorney David Cummings;
Paul Smith, Financial Advisor, First Interstate Financial Services, Inc.; Sharon
Rowen and Beverly Bryant, Ponca City News; Scott Cloud, Newkirk Herald Journal;
Tammy Reese, Kay County Clerk/Secretary.
Darrel Grossardt, absent. (See sign-in sheet).
Motion made by Young and seconded by Van Hoesen approving regular
meeting minutes of
No report was made from the Architect Liaison Committee, jail repair status or the jail site selection committee.
Newkirk Citizen Pat Branch asked who was on the jail site selection committee.
Chairman Robinson replied he was on the committee along with Norris Frederick, Carl Giddens and Wes Young.
Juvenile facility – Pat Branch brought to trustee’s attention that she received an e-mail from Kim Sardis, Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs, which read there is no certainty there would be funds for a juvenile facility. Sardis said they would like to see a facility in North Central Oklahoma but did not know if Kay County would be the location for that facility or not.
AIP Architect Stan Lewis was not present to give updates on new jail facility.
Jail Consultant Don Jones said he would answer questions regarding design, construction, cost and utilization of a new jail facility. No questions were asked.
Chairman Robinson said the Campaign Advisory Committee (Darrel Grossardt, Wes Young, Everette Van Hoesen, and Robinson) met with Financial Advisor Paul Smith, Attorney’s Brent Clark and David Cummings, Jail Consultant Don Jones to discuss campaign strategy.
Financial Advisor Paul Smith presented a drafted copy of a
proposed brochure and asked for the trustees to thoroughly review and report
any comments or corrections back to him.
He said he wanted the brochure to be simple, self-explained and full of
facts. Smith also said to remind people
of Election Day on
Cummings reminded the trustees to ask for campaign funds so ads could be put in area newspapers.
April and May calendars were presented of upcoming speaking engagements scheduled around the county to educate the citizens and to give citizens an opportunity to ask questions.
JFA members discussed speakers and format to use at the different forums.
Sheriff Van Hoesen said May 4 and 11, 2008,
Robinson said drafts have been given to trustees in regards to talking points to be used in public meetings.
Robinson said his and Carl Giddens name will be used on checking account to deposit and disburse funds for election campaign.
Unscheduled public appearances: Citizen Pat Branch began by asking for an introduction of the JFA members. She then mentioned the purchase of property for the proposed jail site and asked if the authority negotiated the price.
Chairman Robinson explained the detailed process and mentioned pros and cons of other sites considered; he ended by saying the property purchased fit all the needs.
Attorney David Cummings clarified the JFA’s course of action in the process. Cummings said the authority’s position was to enter into an option agreement. He said the action was taken by the Board of County Commissioners and the land purchased would serve multi-purposes because of the location.
Cummings said if the tax passes the authority can acquire enough land needed for the jail site. The remaining county property would be used by the county.
Branch then questioned where the jail would actually be located on the piece of property.
Robinson said that decision has not been determined at this time.
Jail Consultant Don Jones said it would be nice to have the jail in a location accessible from the county road instead of entering from the highway.
Carl Giddens said he understood the fact that people do not want a sales tax. He said people can’t live without a jail. Giddens explained what will happen if the sales tax does not pass – the jail could be closed; sending prisons to other counties and the expense; the $95,000.00 fines levied against the county; fines being added to the property owners. Giddens said a sales tax is the fairest tax. Giddens asked do you want a jail built by a sales tax or the property owners.
Ponca City Citizen Roy Tidwell said he is not in favor of
taxes going up but feels the tax for the jail is a big need; he stated he would
like to see
Smith said he viewed the Oklahoma Tax Commission on the web
site and from 2004 to 2007
Giddens commented that there are people walking around that should be in jail; he said we can not put criminals away that we need to and we are facing difficult situations.
Robinson noted that
There being no other business, motion was made by Van Hoesen
and seconded by Stieber to adjourn (
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Approved this day of , 2008.
_________________________________
Bruce
Robinson, Chairman
Attest:
________________________________________
Tammy Reese,
Secretary, Kay County Justice Facilities Authority
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