For nearly four years the space needs of the Eau Claire County jail and courthouse have been a hot topic for civic     leaders and citizens alike. In the spirit of fulfillment, the Courthouse Campus Plan, an expansion to the existing building, was put into motion last winter. To make way for the expansion, Eau Claire County made purchases from 13 landowners whose properties were adjacent to the Chippewa Riverfront, between Ann Street and Grand Avenue. Plans were made to raze buildings on these properties.

Summer passed, and no wrecking balls were seen on the west side of downtown. Progress on the project lay in the hands of the City Council, whose approval of a rezoning request was needed. The rezoning proposal would have only one chance this year to be approved by both the City Council and the City Plan Commission. An immediate kibosh on the plan by the City Council on Aug. 26 would have halted similar proposals for 365 days.

Citizens for Accountability in Jail Expansion were also aware of this stipulation, and used it to effect change in the proceedings. Mere days before the County Board was scheduled to propose the rezoning, CAJE filed a Protest Petition with the City Council, voicing its ardent resistance to Eau Claire County’s desire to rezone. According to Ken Fulgione, a County Board representative and CAJE affiliate, “CAJE is the reason ... the entire reason ... the County Board was forced to stop the ‘done deal’ regional jail project and rezoning request.”

Unquestionably, the efforts of CAJE played a role in the County Board’s decision to withdraw the rezoning application. The resolution to withdraw did not, however, bring the expansion project to a halt. The County Board chose to reconsider its options through a Special Committee to Resolve Jail Space and Site Needs. The County Board Chair, Greg Moore, appointed members of this extraordinary group, in compliance with the county code.

Among them are two City Council members and seven County Board members. Moore explained that the title “Special Committee” allows non-County Board supervisors to serve. Thus, remaining seats were allotted to six interested parties in the community. Moore “tried to strike a balance between backgrounds and interests” when sifting through the 28 citizen applicants.

What exactly the Special Committee will do and how has not yet been decided. Its chair, County Board member Colleen Bates, explained, “We have to come to this meeting with the notion that basically this is an open book.” Bates expressed her feeling that the courthouse and jail space needs should be considered in terms of the whole justice system. “You can’t look in a vacuum,” she said.

Bates also mentioned that the inclusion of a facilitator in the meetings will be considered at the Special Committee’s first meeting on Sept. 25. The meetings are open to the public. “I would hope that we could have community input along the way that is meaningful,” Bates stated.

Resolution is, of course, the ultimate goal. A deadline for resolution has been set at January 14, 2009, although this date is flexible. The job of the Special Committee over the next four months is daunting. As Moore explained, “everything is on the table,” and the committee will be reconsidering all prior options, from expansion to relocation.

Frank Draxler, former project manager, explained that options considered in the past such as an alternative location or smaller building will be possibilities again. The new committee, he explained, will be by no means limited to past options.

And what of Eau Claire’s newly purchased riverfront property? The decision was made on Sept. 10 to put demolition on hold. The buildings on the property will be winterized and remain vacant, or continue to rent on a month-to-month basis, according to Moore.

    The Special Committee will hold its first meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6:30pm in Room 2550 of the Eau Claire County Courthouse. The committee will decide its permanent meeting schedule. The public is welcome.