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February 20, 2006 - Regular Meeting Page 500 Wee Seamon stated he was in favor of Option 1. He commended the process that he stated started several years ago and commented on his attendance at five meetings during which the community was asked where the jail should be built. Mr. Seamon also addressed the safety for both the deputies and prisoners during the transports to Alamance County. In conclusion, he said it was not possible to please everyone and the Board should take all the citizens of Cabarrus County into consideration in making its decision. Justin Thibault of Concord stated he agreed with Jerry williamson that it was time to build the jail. He said the basic function of any government was the safety of its citizens and that the jail had gone through a long deliberative process over a number of years. He said Option 1 will offer the citizens the best safety for the money and allow the County to deal with what was a state wide crisis in jail capacity. Mr. Thibault stated the time to consider relocation of the jail was over and the County was reaching a crisis situation. Gene Ligon, resident of 94 Spencer Avenue I stated his business called Your Gym and Golden Brown Tanning was now located at 11 Union Street. He said his home and business had previously been located on the site of the future jail and he had moved for the betterment of Cabarrus County. He discussed his business operation in Concord for the past 19 years, including those years at 125 Union Street. Mr. Ligon stated he supported Option 1 and said the Board cannot please everyone but has to do what is right even though it is sometimes not popular. Carol Schmidt, resident of 67 Edgewood Avenue NE, Concord, stated the Board had two options: approve the plan for the annex and one 500-bed housing unit or approve a new plan that will cost $2.3 million and cause a delay of up to three years. She stated the $2.3 million could be spent on Option 3 or could be used for alternative purposes such as to purchase 115,000 books for the County library or the schools, buy over 10,000 square feet of classroom space, and fund 50 or 60 faculty salaries for one year. Chairman Carruth said that was all the speaker's cards he had in support of Option 1. He recognized Commissioner Carpenter to read a letter that she had received. Commissioner Carpenter read a letter from William D. MacRae of Foxwood Drive. He wrote that those persons not wanting the jail "in their backyard" have every right to raise their objections, but seem to be holding the County hostage with objections to anything suggested. Further, he wrote that the Board represents about 158,000 citizens and the 1,100 obj ectors were less than one percent of the County's citizens. Mr. MacRae asked that the Board hold to the February 20th deadline and consider what was best for all the citizens. Chairman Carruth then recognized others who wished to address the Board regarding the jail project. Ellen Sewell, resident of 299 Union Street South, stated she holds a doctorate degree in economics. She said the proposed j ail constitutes a detrimental condition that will cause a loss of value for property in the surrounding neighborhoods. Also, she said the uncertainty factor associated the possibility of a future addition to the facility would cause property values to be further depressed. MS. Sewell said the Board was asking the surrounding neighborhoods to bear a disproportionate share of the cost of the facility in order to save the average county taxpayers a few dollars. She said a law enforcement institutional complex would diminish any appeal of the area for residential purposes and the older neighborhoods could be lost. Molly Reese, resident of 102 Meadow Avenue NE and part owner of a tea shop at 11 Union Street, South, said she was speaking on behalf of approximately 14 other downtown business owners whose voices were not represented by Zac Moretz (Concord Downtown Development Corporation) at the Jail Review Committee meeting. She stated she and her constituents feel the jail project, particularly Option 1, would cause a detriment to their businesses and the revitalization of the downtown area. She stated there had been complaints about shoplifting and cited concerns about safety and the lack of parking in the downtown area. Finally, MS. Reese asked that the jail and its prisoners be placed outside of downtown Concord. Allison Kitfield, considerable compromises Review Committee but its resident of 192 North Union Street, stated and progress were made in two meetings of the Jail work was stopped over the Sheriff's immediate need