Posted: 4/11/06
Put your questions in writing
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Put it in writing.
That was the stern message that county commissioners gave a group of citizens with questions about the proposed criminal justice center (CJC) at the April 4 county board meeting.
Bob Klug and Cathy Krupa were going to ask questions about the project for the third straight meeting. They represent a group of people that have concerns over the size and preferred location of the project next to the current courthouse.
But before any questions could be asked, board chairman Kevin Kelleher told them that all questions would have to be written down and would then be submitted to the county auditor.
Kelleher held up a newspaper ad placed by Klug and the group. He said the ad ìcrossed the lineî and was attacking in nature. ìThat changed the playing field,î Kelleher said. ìWeíve attempted to work with you.î
The ad had inaccurate information, Kelleher said. Klug asked him to specify what was inaccurate. Kelleher refused.
Kelleher said that the county would be holding a series of informational sessions about the CJC. ìYouíre welcome to attend the meetings and ask questions,î he said.
The concerned citizens had become a special interest group with a negative, inaccurate point of view, Kelleher said.
ìThis is the way you normally treat conscientious objections?î Klug asked.
ìThis is conscientious objections?î commissioner Larry Graf answered back, pointing to the newspaper ad.
Citizen David Pieper asked if the board would take questions from anyone else. Kelleher said yes, but they must be submitted in writing. He then repeated that people should attend the informational meetings. Board members nodded at his comment.
Another county resident, Julie Massman, told Kelleher she felt he was putting himself above the citizenry, and that it would rub the public the wrong way. ìBob is representing the public today, not himself,î she said.
Massman felt there was common ground to work on, and that the board should have started with meetings to find the will of the public.
ìThe public is a large group and they have a diverse group of opinions,î Kelleher responded.
Cathy Krupa said the public meetings could be improved by having portable microphones instead of having people come to the front to speak into one, as was done at an informational meeting on March 16. Kelleher said he would look into that.
Krupa also said she was still waiting for answers about the project. ìWeíre just trying to speak for lots of people, not just the neighbors,î Krupa said.
Kathy Lamb of Caledonia asked when a decision would be made, and wondered what the process would be. Kelleher said those things were hard to determine, but that the board should put a process together.
Commissioner Ann Thompson said one big question about the project concerns its size. Court service people can answer that best, and they will be at the informational meetings, Thompson said. Initial plans are for a 71,000 square foot building, with an estimated cost of $15.9 million. Commissioners and the jail planner have said that that price is not certain.
The hour-long conversation ended with Massman telling Kelleher that he had decided beforehand that all the comments would be negative. She said that was prejudicial to people of one viewpoint.
If you place an ad with inaccuracies, you must live with that responsibility, Kelleher answered.
Later in the meeting, commissioners said they would provide answers to written questions in board packets, would post them on the countyís website, and would print them in the minutes. The website is www.houstoncounty.govoffice2.com. Minutes are published in all four Houston County newspapers.
Public meeting dates
Here are the dates and locations for the CJC open houses. All start at 7 p.m.
ï April 18: La Crescent Community Center;
ï April 20: Brownsville Community Center;
ï April 25: Houston Community Center;
April 27: Eitzen Community Center;
May 2: Caledonia Middle/High School;
May 4: Hokah Fire Hall;
May 9: Spring Grove Fest Building.
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