Lease/purchase may be answer for new facility

Several years ago, a private company offered to build, operate, a juvenile detention center, housing Bonner County inmates at no cost. Financing/profit would come from taking in inmates from elsewhere at a charge. A good deal but nothing happened.

Next commissioners in office at the time attempted an “end run” tax implementation for such a project without voter approval. This unconstitutional maneuver was stopped by court order. (Hoorah for the judge.)

Last year, $6 million “Punk Palace” levy, with an outlandish 50 percent, $3 million architectural/engineering cost (a really bad smell here) was soundly rejected.

Now questions require answers:

Has state threatened shut down of current facility or merely decertifying?

Has attempt been made to locate less costly incarceration than Kootenai at private/public facility in/outside Idaho?

Has attempt been made to locate private company to build, operate no cost detention facility here as offered several years ago?

If exhausting such avenues then building our own under the most cost effective parameters may make long-term sense.

Bare bones facility meeting only state minimums. Unpleasant place young criminals will wish to avoid. If you don’t like it here then don’t come back.

Negotiate obtaining plans of existing state certified similar sized facility from another county avoiding architectural/engineering costs.

Size only for current needs with 5 year anticipated increase but allow space for future add ons.

Additional tax burden kept to absolute minimum. Use temporary (stated expiration date) sales tax increase. Everyone pays not just property owners. Voter approval required. Lease/purchase could be answer.

PHIL POUTRÉ

Cocolalla