The Grand Forks County Commission held a special meeting Thursday to discuss how to deal with several multi-million dollar projects waiting in the wings.
The group voted 4-1 to tap remaining American Rescue Plan Act dollars to bolster the pot for the jail expansion project. The extra $6.1 million in federal funds combined with $32.6 million in bonding will cover the $38 million dollar bill.
One reason the expansion is to cover the increase in state prisoners being kept at the local jail. Commission Chair Bob Rost says the state no longer reimburses local correctional centers for housing the offenders. Rost says it’s an issue every county has had to deal with.
Jail Administrator Bret Burkholder says longer holding times are also an issue. “They are waiting trial and such…that will always fall on the Grand Forks County taxpayer…we can never send them away. The average length of stay of our unsentenced people is up almost 30%.”
In other action the board agreed to move forward with refurbishing the courthouse dome at a cost of some $3.8 million dollars. The leaky roof is damaging other portions of the building.
The county will also solicit offers to sell the parking ramp to get from under $6 million dollars in needed repairs. Commissioner Mark Rustad says it doesn’t hurt to ask. “It seems sometimes when dealing with a government agency bids tend to elevate naturally. What’s the worst case scenario…we find out nobody wants it…best case someone makes us a healthy offer and we are out from under a money pit.”
Funding the courthouse dome and ramp repairs could be tied together in a bond issue if no one steps forward to buy the structure.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
