BC 2011 04 04 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 4, 2011 (Work Session) Page 369 Ordinance" on the April 18, 2011 Agenda as a New Business item and scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Commerce - Update on Raging Ridge Road Extension Jonathan Marshall, Commerce Director, provided an update on the Raging Ridge Road extension project. Highlights included the following: Raging Ridge Road provides access to Hickory Ridge High and Middle Schools; the proposed extension includes an extensive creek crossing and a secondary access road to both Schools; the engineering firm of W. K. Dickson was employed to conduct a study and recommends the installation of a 48' CON /SPAN bridge designed for a 25 year flood event, as opposed to one that will accommodate a 50 or 100 year flood event; utilization of the smaller bridge is a fairly common practice and reduced the estimated construction cost from $1.5 million to $1.1 million, a savings of $400,000; however, this scenario will require the issuance of a "Conditional Letter of Map Revision" from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) whereby the County acknowledges that water may pass over the bridge and may cause an obstruction should a 50 or 100 year flood event occur; the $1.1 million estimate is for turnkey project design and construction oversight with the County, the Town of Harrisburg and the North Carolina Department of Transportation providing funding; and, the final proposal, cost estimate and contract will be presented to the Board for its consideration in the near future. Mr. Marshall responded to a variety of questions from the Board. With regard to a walking trail, Chairman White asked that the County Parks' Department be notified if this project moves forward. No action was required of the Board. BOC - Resolution Opposing Legislative Changes that Result in Counties Housing Misdemeanants and Felons The financial and practical implications of a plan put forth by the Joint Appropriations Committee on Justice and Safety to move misdemeanants currently housed in state prisons to county jails was discussed. It was noted by County staff that the proposed unfunded mandate would cost the County approximately $3.6 million annually and exceed the bed space of the new jail by approximately 363 inmates. John Day, County Manager, recommended the draft resolution in the agenda packet be edited to include "misdemeanants and felons" and urged the Board to adopt the resolution as the Legislature is moving quickly through the budget process. Chairman White also addressed the Governor's proposal to use county savings (fund balance) to pay for state - sponsored programs. UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman Poole, seconded by Commissioner Carruth and unanimously carried, the Board voted to suspend its rules of procedures to take action on the resolution due to time constraints. UPON MOTION of Vice Chairman Poole, seconded by Commissioner Carruth and unanimously carried, the Board adopted the following resolution: Resolution No. 2011 -09 RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF HOUSING MISDEMEANANTS AND FELONS IN COUNTY JAILS WHEREAS, The N.C. Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety is considering a plan that would move misdemeanants and felons currently housed in state prisons to county jails; and WHEREAS, County jails are designed as short -term detention facilities and are not capable of replicating the safety and rehabilitation requirements as prisons, which are designed as long -term punishment facilities; and WHEREAS, Housing prisoners would require county jails to incur the expense of extensive staff training and resource development to properly manage this new inmate category; and WHEREAS, Moving misdemeanants and felons to county jails would shift all liability of these prisoners to counties, who are ill equipped to meet the additional services and medical treatment required of this population; and