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May 15, 2006 - Regular Meeting Page 586 the jail project as planned will have a dramatic negative effect on the character and image of downtown Concord and on the tax burden carried by all Cabarrus County residents. Alex Porter I resident of 193 South Union Street I stated he represents the \\Citizens for a Better Concord" and the "Residents of Historic Concord" who want a smaller jail downtown. If the large housing units must be built, he said the County should consider a less obvious, much larger and flatter site that would save the County money on screening, facades and site development. He said the only people speaking in favor of the j ail are County staff or groups they control and stated the largest group of stakeholders/homeowners would have supported the project if a more moderate plan had been adopted. Allison Kitfield of 192 North Union Street in Concord compared the proposed multi-story jail project in Cabarrus County to a less expensive one- story jail facility recently built in Brunswick County. She said the proposed jail site in downtown Concord is limited and steeply sloped which results in greater development costs and a much more expensive multi-story design. Because the jail is an extension of downtown Concord, she said the use of expensive exterior materials is also required. She further commented on the elimination of the second inmate housing unit and stated there is no room for future expansion at the site. MS. Kitfield asked the Board to vote for a less expensive bond financing package and for a scaled down, more practical version of the jail project. Chelsea King of Firecrest Street in Concord said the County's debt will increase by 45 percent if the jail is built and taxes will have to be increased. She reported there are more than 10,000 citizens living in poverty and more than 17,000 senior citizens in Cabarrus County. She asked if the poor will be able to pay the higher taxes and if the elderly will have to sell their homes. Finally, she asked if there was a cheaper alternative for the jail. Kathleen Rothwell, resident of Dogwood Street in Concord, reported Cabarrus County spent less than $11 million on each of its last two elementary schools. She stated building the jail in a cheaper location would enable the County to have an adequate new jail plus one or two new schools. She asked what was more important, education for the children or convenience for the downtown lawyers. Thomas Hopper of Concord stated he received the "Impact through Education" award from cabarrus County ten years ago. He said the County has greatly impacted his education and plans to return to Concord after college. He stated Cabarrus County has a great education system, growth, and a vibrant culture. Mr. Hopper stated he foresees an excessive tax burden on the young people and asked the Board to put the matter in a referendum to the people. Ben Cohen of 192 North Union Street in Concord reported the will be paid over $50,000.00 to pick out furniture for the jail. this fee is more than twice the average yearly per person income County. Mr. Cohen also said the jail debt will saddle everyone burden that will impact the future of every person that wants Cabarrus County. Architects He stated in Cabarrus with a tax to live in Deborah Arbes of 348 Union Street in Concord stated intention to show the size and scale of the jail complex. Using presentation, she presented a virtual three dimensional tour of jail complex and a comparison of the size of the facilities houses. She invited residents to contact UCitizens for a Better additional information regarding the project. it was her a powerpoint the proposed with nearby Concord" for Ms. Ellen Sewell of Concord addressed the issue of costs versus the benefits of reconsidering alternate locations for the jail. With the elimination of any future second housing unit at that location, she stated any economies of scale associated with laundry, food preparation and health care were eliminated and site benefits reduced. She questioned the future use of the remainder of the property and suggested the entire parcel could be sold for mixed-use development. Further, she commented on the cost of additional conditions to gain public acceptance and approval from the City of Concord and asked if the site was still the best location for the facility. Dr. Martha Sommer of 195 North Union Street in Concord addressed the issue of parking in downtown Concord and the impact of the jail on the downtown businesses. She stated there are 360 public parking and 10 handicapped spaces in downtown Concord and a projected 864 inmate visitors