1989-08-29 Special Meeting
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 29, 1989
ASSEMBLY
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met in Special
Session on Tuesday, August 29, 1989, at 7:30 o'clock P.M. in the
General Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24
North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Members present were: Commissioners Jonathan Barfield, Sr.;
W. Albert Corbett, Jr.; E. L. Mathews, Jr.; Vice-Chairman, Nolan
O'Neal; Chairman, Fred Retchin; Acting County Manager, Mary
Gornto; County Attorney, Robert W. Pope; and Clerk to the Board,
Lucie F. Harrell.
Chairman Retchin called the Special Meeting to order stating
the purpose of the Work Session is to discuss options for
expansion of the Jail Facility. He requested Mr. Herb McKim, a
partner of Ballard McKim and Sawyer Architects, to present the
two proposals that were submitted at the meeting of August 21,
1989.
The following proposals were presented:
OPTION I - EXPANSION OF THE PRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER
COST: $7,000,000
1. Expand from 120 Beds to 240 Beds
a. 3,600 sq. ft. of additional new space
b. 10,690 sq. ft. of renovated existing space
2. Expansion Areas
a. Construction of new columns adjacent to existing
walls on the south side of the building.
b. Construction of new floor at the third floor level.
c. New roof over the existing exercise area.
Mr. McKim stated the primary advantage of this option is the
convenience of the existing facility to the Courthouse with usage
of the underground tunnel when transporting inmates to court. He
stated the disadvantages are providing adequate parking and an
accessible service entrance.
OPTION II - EXPANSION OF PRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER PLUS
CONSTRUCTION OF AN EIGHTY BED JAIL ON DIVISION
DRIVE PROPERTY
COST: $6,250,000
1. Concept: Construct a jail that is expandable (modular)
beginning with 80 beds and expanding up to 240 beds in
increments of 80 or less.
2. House food preparation for both jails using a serving
kitchen in the existing Law Enforcement Building.
3. Move the training officer to the new facility.
Construct an indoor range adjacent to the training
office. This frees up space in the existing Law
Enforcement Center for 911, Emergency Services and Vice-
Narcotics.
4. Additions to Law Enforcement Center:
a. Serving Kitchen and new service entry and elevator.
b. Staff lounge and expansion of the ID Section.
This concept will add 80 beds at the
beds at the existing Law Enforcement Center.
minimum security center would be eliminated
to the new facility.
new facility and 10
The present weekend
and staff reassigned
Mr. McKim stated the primary advantage of this option is the
future capability of converting the Law Enforcement Center into a
judicial building when the court facilities outgrow the present
structure. He stated the primary disadvantage would be the cost
and time involved with transporting inmates to court.
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~ ~ ." ,S.PECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 29, 1989 ( CONTINUED)
Chairman Retchin asked if anyone present would like to
comment. The following remarks were presented and discussed:
Sheriff Joe McQueen commented on the urgent need for
additional beds to accommodate felons awaiting trial stating he
would prefer that the jail expansion occur in the present
facility. He expressed concern for the cost, amount of time, and
personnel that would be required for transporting inmates from
Division Drive to the Judicial Building and requested the
Commissioners to consider this factor before making a final
decision.
District Attorney, Jerry Spivey, expressed concern for
moving the main holding facility from the Law Enforcement Center
and listed the following disadvantages: (1) costs involved with
transporting of prisoners, particularly unscheduled trips; (2)
security; and (3) delays in Superior Court trials at a tremendous
cost to the taxpayers. He recommended maximizing the use of the
downtown facility for holding inmates awaiting trial and
long-range planning for expansion of the minimum security space
at the Jail Annex on Division Drive.
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Assistant District Attorney, John Carriker, stated most of
the inmates awaiting trial have court appointed attorneys who
visit clients during lunch, breaks, or court delays without
additional time and cost involved in traveling to another
location. He stated if the main holding facility is moved to
another location, court appointed attorneys will see less of
their clients and refuse to serve on the indigent list. He urged
the Commissioners to expand the Jail Annex to accommodate persons
serving misdemeanor sentences, and utilize the existing Law
Enforcement Center for persons needing access to the Court
System.
A lengthy discussion was held on expanding the current
facility to adequately accommodate the jail population for the 0
future. Chairman Retchin stated he could not see expansion of
the present facility to accommodate future needs. Commissioner
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Mathews expressed concern for spendlng 7,000,000 on a Jail
expansion that probably will not meet future needs. He also
commented on the cost of construction and asked if a low cost
type of facility can be constructed on Division Drive?
Mr. McKim recommended the possibility of increasing the
number of beds in the Law Enforcement Center to 80 and expanding
the Jail Annex by 65 to 70 in dormitory type construction to
reduce the cost.
Vice-Chairman O'Neal stated expansion of the Law Enforcement
Center would be short-sighted, particularly with the lack of
space to provide for parking and a service entrance area.
Attorney Bill J. Boney, Jr., Chairman of the Indigent
Committee for the 5th District, stated the Jail Annex is adequate
and functioning well; however, the main Jail is overcrowded with
the possibility of a federal lawsuit being filed due to
inadequate space needs. He stated persons in jail are either
felons, federal prisoners, or female prisoners awaiting trial and
need to be conveniently located in order to effectively operate
the Court System. He urged the Commissioners to expand the
existing holding facility stating court appointed attorneys will
not be able to adequately serve and counsel with indigent clients
if they have to travel to another location.
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Attorney John Collins, President of the New Hanover County
Bar Association, commented on the cost of transporting felons and
recommended expansion of the present Law Enforcement Center.
After discussion of the convenience of
facili ty and possible expansion of the Jail
presented the following option:
the present
Annex, Mr .
Jail
McKim
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SPECIAL MEETING, AUGUST 29, 1989 (CONTINUED)
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OPTION III - EXPANSION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER INTO A JAIL
FACILITY WITH REMOVAL OF OTHER DIVISIONS EXCEPT FOR
THE JAILER AND CIVIL PROCESS UNIT
COST: TO BE DETERMINED
1. Remov~ 911, the Patrol Division, Training Unit, Vice-
Narcotic unit and other offices to the Jail Annex
utilizing the entire Law Enforcement Center for the
jail. The Jailer and Civil Process Unit will remain
in the building.
2. This option will provide an additional 80-90 cells.
Commissioner Mathews asked if the proposed expansion of the
Law Enforcement Center will be adequate for future space needs.
Mr. McKim stated if the the Law Enforcement Center can be
expanded to provide 380 cells, and the Jail Annex expanded as
needed, the facility should be adequate for a number of years.
Chairman Retchin recommended requesting Mr. McKim to present
a proposal on converting the Law Enforcement Center into a jail
facility. Mr. McKim recommended preparing a proposal looking at
the maximum number of cells that can be placed in the present
facility with an estimated cost projected.
Consensus: After further discussion, it was the consensus of the
Board to request Mr. McKim to prepare a proposal for expansion of
the Law Enforcement Center with removal of all offices and units
with the exception of the Jailer and Civil Process Unit. This
proposal is to be presented to the Commissioners within the next
four weeks.
Chairman Retchin expressed appreciation to District Attorney
Jerry Spivey, Assistant District Attorney, John Carriker;
Attorney Bill J. Boney, Jr.; and Attorney John Collins for their
input and cooperation in discussing the proposed jail expansion.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Barfield MOVED, SECONDED by Commissioner
Corbett to adjourn. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Chairman Retchin adjourned the meeting at 9:25 o'clock P.M.
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~ F. Harrell
Clerk to the Board
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