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May 2, 2005 (Work Session) Page 155 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met for an Agenda Work Session in the Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Monday, May 2, 2005, at 3:30 p.m. Present - Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Vice Chairman: Robert W. Carruth Commissioners: Robert M. Freeman Joni D. Juba Coy C. Privette Also present were John D. Day, County Manager; Jr., County Attorney; Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to Honeycutt, Deputy Clerk to the Board. Fletcher L. the Board; Hartsell, and Kay Chairman Carpenter called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Commissioner Freeman gave the invocation. Report on Meeting with Secretary Beck Regarding the Temporary Jail Chairman Carpenter reported on a recent meeting with Secretary of Corrections Theodis Beck and other State officials concerning the possibility of constructing a temporary jail on State-owned property at the Cabarrus Correctional Center in Mt. Pleasant. She proposed that the County construct the temporary jail at the Mt. Pleasant site, use it for three years and then sell the facility, less the land cost, to the State. Chairman Carpenter said Secretary Beck had agreed to perform a needs assessment and to allow the County to do soil testing at the Mt. Pleasant site. She reported the State officials had expressed some concern about the material to be used in constructing the interior walls of the proposed facility and would prefer a more durable product. However, she stated an alternate proposal could be included in the bid package to address that concern. Chairman Carpenter asked for a consensus by the Board to begin site testing at the Mt. Pleasant site. Commissioner Juba questioned the cost of soil testing. Kelly sifford, Community Development Manager, reported the soil tests at the Arena site were approximately $7,500.00. Mr. Hartsell stated the primary issue is the projected life of the proposed temporary jail. He explained the State requires a useful life of 30 years for its facilities and the temporary jail has a projected life of only 15 years. Also, Mr. Hartsell advised that approval by the Council of State could be a lengthy process as it took three to five years to get approval for property at Frank Liske Park. He stated there is need for space in the prison system but the State must determine if the Mt. Pleasant site is the appropriate location for the additional space and if the proposed facility would meet its needs. Finally, Mr. Hartsell advised it would be a "gamble" to build the facility at the Mt. Pleasant site with no buy-back guarantee from the State. There was a general discussion on the following jail related issues: the time constraints in addressing jail overcrowding; the possibility that it would take the Council of State months or years to reach a decision; the use of taxpayer dollars; and the need to pursue all viable options. Commissioner Privette again proposed the implementation of a pre-trial release program such as the one used in Rowan County. Commissioner Freeman suggested that an auxiliary jail be built on the Justice Center site in downtown Concord. Ms. Sifford advised the only available space for the temporary jail on the Justice Center site would be the site of the future tower expansion. She stated extensive re-design and acquisition of additional property would be required to place the facility on the downtown site. After constructing the plans for discussion, the Board agreed by consensus not to pursue a temporary jail at the Mt. Pleasant site and to proceed with the temporary jail at the Arena. Resolution of utility Issues with the City of Concord Chairman Carpenter reported the County is still under court supervised mediation in the water and sewer dispute with the City of Concord. To aid in the resolution of the dispute, she stated Mr. Day and Brian Hiatt, Concord City Manager, had selected a facilitator, Phil Boyle (Leading and Governing Associates), to assist County and City representatives to reach an agreement.