The Board of County Commissioners
of Kay County, Oklahoma, met in special session at
Chairman Wilson called the special meeting to order. Those present were as follows: Members Dee Schieber and First Deputy Peggy
Ennis; Judy Barnes, Kay County Assessor; Christy Kennedy, Kay County Treasurer;
District Attorney (DA) Mark Gibson; Charles Abbott, Blackwell Journal Tribune;
Scott Cloud, Newkirk Herald Journal; Sharon Rowen, Ponca City News; Tammy
Reese, Kay County Clerk/Secretary (see sign-in sheet).
Note: Board of Kay
County Commissioners Agenda Items 3 and 4, and Justice Facilities Authority
(JFA) Agenda Items 4 and 5, were joint items discussed between the two boards.
Those present from JFA were as follows: Bruce Robinson, Chairman; Members-Carl
Giddens, Darrel Grossardt, Laile Wilson, Commissioner and Wes Young; Paul
Smith, Financial Advisor; Stan Lewis, AIP Architect; Don Jones, Jail
Consultant.
Motion was
made by Schieber and seconded by Ennis to enter into executive session upon
recommendation of DA Mark Gibson, pursuant to Title 25 Section 307(B)(3), to
discuss the possible appraisal and/or purchase of real property on which to
locate a new county jail (2:34 p.m.)
Motion carried: Schieber, aye;
Ennis, aye; Wilson, aye.
Motion was
made by Schieber and seconded by Ennis to reconvene special meeting (
Robinson
added that a sub committee of the JFA has been looking at three different
possibilities for a location for the new facility.
Motion was
made by Ennis and seconded by Schieber to authorize the JFA to spend up to
$10,000.00 to be used as earnest money or option money for the purchase of
property. Motion carried: Schieber, aye; Ennis, aye;
The next
topic of discussion was a Resolution and issuance of an Election Proclamation
calling for a countywide sales tax election on
Schieber
had several questions concerning the topic:
1) The time limit on going out for a tax 2) How the JFA arrived at
two-thirds cent 3) How much the two-thirds cent will generate
Financial
Advisor, Paul Smith, said the next available date for an election is
Smith explained
language in the Resolution stating a portion of the sales tax, one-third cent
shall have a limited duration of twenty years from the date of commencement, or
until principal and interest upon indebtedness incurred on behalf of Kay County
is paid in full, whichever occurs earlier; while the remaining portion of the
sales tax, one-third of one cent, to continue until repealed by a majority of
the electors of Kay County.
Schieber
said with the extra beds in the new facility we could house Department of Corrections
(DOC) inmates and use that money to help pay off the debt.
Smith
cautioned everyone that DOC is part of the problem and said to expect to make a
profit off of DOC for any length of time is not in the best interest of the
county.
Schieber
spoke about state agencies forcing us to build a new jail facility.
Smith
replied stating it is a public safety responsibility. He said we have sizing problems, security and
safety problems, no secure environment and no segregation. Smith told the audience, these people in our
jails have constitutional rights and we must comply with the standards.
Schieber
then asked if the jail was going to be a 321 bed facility or a 268 bed
facility.
Smith
explained the number of physical beds in the facility was 321 but the
operational number may never reach that capacity because of various situations,
single cell/double cell, men/women, nature of crime, etc.
Smith’s answer to Schieber’s question on the chances of
passing the sales tax. Smith said the
studying has been done, to be clear on the project and let the people vote.
Schieber then discussed the difference in cost comparing
Smith said the 228 bed facility is for construction cost
only; the projected operational cost of the
Schieber then asked when the tax would be collected if it
passed in May.
Smith said it takes 75 days to prepare a notice making the
tax go into effect
Schieber stated he has major issues with putting a flat
roof on the new facility and that he is not in favor of a flat roof; Schieber
said he would prefer a sloped steel roof.
Don Jones, Jail Consultant said the board has not voted on
any architectural plans. Robinson added
the commissioners must approve plans before proceeding.
Architect Stan Lewis said changing the roof can be
done. He explained for security purposes
a jail must have a concrete roof; if you have a metal roof it has to be
ventilated.
Motion was made by Schieber and seconded by Ennis to call
for an election on
Motion was made by Schieber and seconded by Ennis to
adjourn (
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Approved this 3rd day of March, 2008.
_____________________________
DEE
SCHIEBER, CHAIRMAN
_____________________________
LAILE
WILSON, VICE-CHAIRMAN
_____________________________
PEGGY
ENNIS, FIRST DEPUTY
ATTEST:
_________________________________
TAMMY REESE,
SECRETARY, BOARD OF
(SEAL)
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