[Winona Online Democracy] Hello Evert and WOD,
Evert, you make many good points. What do others think? Are you willing to pay another approximately $800,000 a year for a 20 year bond in order to build a 12 million dollar jail? (Those numbers are just used for discussion purposes. No decisions have been made on whether to build a jail, what kind of jail to build, where to build a jail, or how much it will cost. Projected cost estimates have ranged from 9 - 15 million dollars for a new County jail, depending on a number of variables. I chose a middle ground number.) Do we have any other choices? Are there more effective or less expensive alternatives? How effective are the alternatives? How much are people willing to pay to put offenders in jails? How about drunk drivers and drug related offenders? Are people comfortable with the County continuing to send inmates out of the County to the tune of about $400,000 a year? Other thoughts? Dwayne Voegeli =========== >From: "evert salo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [Winona] Sales Taxes, New Jail?, and Roads... >Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2003 15:19:28 -0600 > >[Winona Online Democracy] > >>From a rank amatuer,some thoughts in response to your questions. > >A second sales tax proposal to fund a new lock-up? No! >First, many of our problems are directly attributable to our legislature and >the administration. They have a very elaborate and expensive incareration >set-up, so,to save money they are dumping prisoners on the counties, and to >exacerbate the problem they are imposing the same high standards for >facilities, assuming ,of course, that counties have the same kind of >resources they have long enjoyed. > >Two, what are the dimensions of the problem. Will our only or main option >continue to be incarceration? Have we studied alternatives.Years ago, the >plan was to sentence miscreants so they could be rehabilitated and returned >back into society. >Now they are simply, "Out of sight, out of mind"! > >Consolidation of county offices.Yes, by all means, but it will have to come >in stages.First, add two or more stories to the county annex building, >including an elevator. Develop a master plan with a ten-year horizon. > >Cost saving. Every county department head should be held responsible for >eliminating waste and duplication of services. We do not compete with other >agencies or the private sector. We do provide essential services for our >citizens that are not available elsewhere and provide support for the >indigent. > >Thanks for asking. > >Evert Salo > > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 8:37 PM >Subject: [Winona] Sales Taxes, New Jail?, and Roads... > > >> [Winona Online Democracy] >> >> Hello Winona Online Democracy and Others, >> >> At this morning's County Board meeting, we have begun work on two issues >> that I would love to hear people's thoughts on. They are: >> >> 1. A possible sales tax to pay for the construction of a POSSIBLE new >jail. >> >> 2. Consolidating existing County buildings downtown. >> >> ----- >> >> Here are some discussion starter questions: >> >> A. What do you think of the idea of using a County-wide sales tax to >> relieve the pressure on property taxpayers to pay for a new County jail? >> >> B. If you could wave a magical wand, how would you have the County fit >> into a new and improved vision for downtown space and building use? Where >> would you put a new jail? >> >> C. On a related note, what do you think of the idea of a city sales tax >> for the City of Winona's proposed road projects? Is there the way that >the >> County and City can work together so we don't end up in an either-or >> situation? >> >> D. The current jail was built in 1978 and was outdated less than 25 years >> later. What are the future trends we should be planning for so a >POTENTIAL >> new jail does not become obsolete in 20 years or so? >> >> E. What other questions should we be asking or thinking about? >> >> ----- >> >> Here is some beginning information and numbers to make the jail puzzle >more fun: >> >> 1. If the County does nothing, it will spend about $330,000 a year in >> costs to ship inmates out to other Counties because our jail is filled to >> capacity. >> >> 2. Even a "short term" solution to the jail overcrowding issue (a jail >> annex in the basement of the current jail) would cost almost an additional >> half a million dollars and that would only last for about 5 years. >> >> 3. The prison and jail population has doubled in Minnesota between 1990 >> and 2002 while the crime rate has gone down. The percentage of people in >> jails because of drug offenses has risen from 7% in 1990 to 17% in 2002. >> >> 4. The State has begun sending more prisoners back to County jails to >> serve their terms. It looks like they will continue to pass the buck this >> next session. The tub is already overflowing and it looks like the State >> is going to open the faucet even wider. >> >> 5. Speaking of tubs overflowing. The "lock-em up" mentality of the >1990's >> won many politicians elections but the cost of that simplisitc approach is >> breaking the bank. Do we have a jail problem or a legislative problem or >> both? I know it's not an easy decision. What people would you want >> released? Are there more effective alternatives? What would you do if >you >> were Governor for a day when it comes to jails and prisons and crimes? >> >> ----- >> >> I definately don't have all the answers. Heck, I have a lot of questions. >> It's not just solving one problem. It's like solving a six sided rubic's >> cube where you have to solve multiple problems simultaneously. I think >the >> jail issue is at least a 3-4 dimensional problem. >> >> I proposed a "Jail Summit" at this morning's meeting to look at some of >> these issues in-depth and possibly make a decision for us locally. It >will >> take place on Wednesday, December 17th between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. >> >> I'd love to hear other's thoughts on all these big and inter-related >issues. >> >> Dwayne Voegeli >> >> ------------ >> >> Dwayne Voegeli >> >> Winona County Commissioner, District #2 >> >> (507) 453-9012 >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. >> Winona, MN 55987 >> >> ------------ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy >> All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. >> No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. >> To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit >> http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona >> Any problems or suggestions can be directed to >> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact >page at >> http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > > >_______________________________________________ >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > ------------ Dwayne Voegeli Winona County Commissioner, District #2 (507) 453-9012 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 359 Pleasant Hill Dr. Winona, MN 55987 ------------ _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
