Posted: 2/21/06
Citizens share concerns on jail project
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
The Caledonia City Council was visited February 13 by about 25 people who are concerned with the countyís plans to build a new criminal justice center (CJC ), which might be constructed near the present Houston County Courthouse.
The county is considering two options for the location of the new CJC, which will house the jail, sheriffís office, court administration, and county attorney. Option A involves building directly east of the present courthouse and wrapping around the jail, and option B has the new building situated to the south and east of the courthouse.
ìWeíve been struggling with the county to get a joint meeting,î Mayor Michael Morey told the group. He said that a public meeting has been scheduled for March 14 at 6 p.m. at the Caledonia Middle School/High School.
Speaking for the group, Bob Klug, whose home is near the courthouse, asked if the sites being considered by the county are fixed in stone.
City Clerk administrator Robert Nelson, who attended a meeting on the CJC with the county on January 31, responded that the location of the new facility on-site has not been finalized, but ìmost commissioners seem to prefer it.î
Mayor Morey said his concerns with the location include the effect the facility will have on the property values of homes nearby, the loss of green space, and adequate parking.
Asked if the city has the authority to ìsay yes or noî to the project, Clerk Nelson replied, ìWe have differing opinions on that. You may want to ask more than one person.î He added that he believes the CJC would be a permitted use.
Klug said he questioned whether the county actually considered off-site locations.
ìWhat was reported was that they looked off-site, but they thought it was too expensive. I question whether they actually looked,î Klug said.
ìThey are threatening business people with taking it to Spring Grove,î he said. ìI wouldnít mind it going to Spring Grove.î
Councilman Gary Klug noted that. ìThey have always said that nothing is set in stone.î
Several people mentioned the proximity of the new CJC to St. Maryís School.
Gail Trocinski, principal of St. Maryís School, commented on the amount of time the county has studied the issue.
ìEight years is plenty of time to get community input,î she said.
Faith Bergin of Caledonia told the council that her concern is with the ìcharacter and integrity of the town.î
ìThat piece of the town will be shattered,î she said.
Other concerns include increased traffic and lighting.
ìItís not the type of building you want in a residential area,î she said.
Caledonia Police Chief Randy Shefelbine, who was at the meeting on a separate issue, said that it is possible that the jail could house federal prisoners if it meets certain requirements.
Mayor Morey said that the city taxpayers may be willing to cover the cost of extending city utilities to a different site if that expense is a concern to county commissioners.
The council urged the group to make its concerns heard at the March 14 meeting.
Bike trail endorsement tabled
The council tabled a request from economic development director Joyce Iverson to pass a resolution supporting an extension of the Root River Bike Trail from Houston to La Crescent and to connect the Wisconsin trail to Minnesotaís trail system.
The Minnesota Parks and Trails Council has included a request for $1 million its bonding proposal to extend the trail from Wisconsin to Minnesota through La Crescent and possibly as far as Millerís Corner (the Highway 26/16 intersection).
Councilman Paul Fisch asked if there are plans to connect the trail to Caledonia. Iverson said that that would be the eventual goal, but that there is not a committee from Caledonia that is working on that at this time.
ìThere is no new group. The invitation has been extended,î she told the council.
It will take between 10 and 20 years to complete the extension of the trail from Houston to La Crescent, Iverson noted.
Mayor Morey said that he would like to table the matter until he could look into it further.
In other business, the council:
ï agreed to get cost estimates for shutting down wells #4 and 5;
ï approved bids from Ellingson Motors for $20,466 for a new truck and $10, 452 from Universal Truck and Equipment for a box;
ï heard a report from liquor store manager Patty Gavin, who reported that the store had one of its best months ever in January;
ï agreed to consider a raise for animal control office Mike Gavin, who currently earns $300 per month;
ï agreed to be a sponsor of a business appreciation reception on Thursday, March 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mayor Morey will speak at 6 p.m.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com