JAIL COMMITTEE PICKED POLITICS
    [By recommending to build the new jail on the existing county campus] the committee did not exercise due diligence; it picked the expedient, political alternative. It was not until its 11th meeting that the committee even considered off-campus sites, and that consideration lasted for one more meeting. Sites were summarily dismissed because they were “not large enough” to accommodate the projected building. Between 15 and 20 acres would be necessary, we were told. Yet, the recommendation is to place the same building on a site, which, in total, is 11.93 acres, one third of which is currently occupied by buildings and there was discussion of building a new courthouse on the same site. The site is simply too small for even the proposed jail building, and definitely too small for the projected growth of the complex. ... It’s time to take this off campus and plan for the creation of a Justice Center (courthouse, jail, and associated functions) at a site that can accommodate it and take advantage of cost savings in energy-efficient construction. The city, county, and school board are already discussing intergovernmental cooperation and the possibility of co-locating these offices. Why not use the current complex and use the revenue to offset the construction of a Justice Center? Once again, the citizens are being “hosed.” The message will now be that “we have been transparent and have taken citizen input.” Have they?

– Nick Smiar, Eau Claire