Posted: 7/31/07
CJC hot topic with city council
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The 82,000-square-foot criminal justice center (CJC) Houston County proposes to locate in downtown Caledonia was the topic of discussion by council members during the July 23 city council meeting.
A committee made up of two council members and city staff met with county commissioners Ann Thompson and Tom Bjerke and county staff to discuss zoning variance and street vacation requests Monday afternoon prior to the council meeting.
At the July 11 public hearing on the countyís requests, the city extended the time period allowed to review and render a decision by 60 days so a traffic study could be conducted. The city council feels the traffic study should be done after school is back in session later this summer when traffic flow would be at its peak.
"Who will be paying for this study?" Thompson asked during the July 23 council meeting. Mayor Mike Morey said the city plans to conduct the study and will pay for it.
Thompson then asked what exactly will the city be measuring and if the study will figure in the streets the county would like closed, and the changes in traffic flow that will result when parking lots are constructed.
"Any information we can receive and review will be very helpful," councilman Paul Fisch said.
Mark Beyer, of Johnson Controls, the countyís consultant on the CJC project, told the council they would put up signs directing traffic in and out of the parking lots that could help alleviate any traffic flow issues.
Morey said he would also like to review the site plans and have the countyís numbers verified as far as the increase in storm water run-off. "Weíre not just looking at putting up a garage here. There is going to be a lot more hard surface in the area and I want to make sure our storm sewer system can handle it," Morey said.
Councilman Bob Standish said he wanted to have figures provided on the amount of fill that will be removed during the construction of the CJC and the routes trucks hauling the fill from the site would take.
Beyer said a complete construction plan has to be developed and reviewed by all the potential contractors long before any bids are let. Contractors have to address all trucking routes, weight limits, parking, security, and other issues, which are all considered when developing their bids.
"I just feel we need this information before we can make a proper decision," Standish said.
Local residents have questions
Caledonia businessman and resident Bob Klug asked the council how the CJC could be a permitted use in an R-2 (residential) zoned area. City Administrator Bob Nelson replied he had made the decision it was an allowable use in an R-2 district, since police stations and fire stations were permitted.
"I donít look at it that way," Klug said. "I can see a fire station or police station being a permitted use, since they are providing a service to people in the immediate neighborhood. But I donít feel a facility like the CJC needs to be located in a residential area."
Caledonia resident Larry Salm said the CJC design utilizes the same specifications as a prison, not just a local jail. "It should be referred to as a prison and I feel it is a public endangerment to persons living in a residential area. I believe the zoning issue should be addressed first to see if something like this is even a permitted use in an R-2 district."
The city council took no action concerning the CJC, but will schedule more work meetings with county staff, and will continue discussing the issues facing the countyís proposal.
Caledonia Argus
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