Reactions were mixed after a 60-minute presentation about the proposed plans to construct a new courthouse and jail pod in Shawano County, as several dozen residents gathered March 12 at Shawano Community High School.
Plans put forth by The Samuels Group indicate, at most, an 11-cent mill rate increase per $1,000 of equalized value for two years, with the rate decreasing after that. The figures are also based on an assumption of growth in the county’s total equalized value.
Not everyone bought that argument.
“It’s ridiculous. You’re saying you’re going to decrease the mill rate, but you’re going to increase the property value,” one unidentified man said. “You can play that game all you want. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. I’ve played this game already. You can’t fool us anymore.”
A base plan of $88.5 million will cover the cost of building a two-story courthouse west of the current building at 311 N. Main St.; this also included some auxiliary areas for the jail and a secure connection between the jail and the courthouse.
Also unveiled was a $32.5 million alternate for a 150-bed housing pod at the jail; this would allow the county to close the work release center on Engel Drive and increase operational efficiencies within the jail.
“Many of these buildings are aging,” said Julie Hasser, human resources director and interim administrative coordinator. “The purpose of this master planning effort is to look carefully at both short-term needs and long-term solutions, so the county can make decisions that are responsible, practical and cost-effective while prioritizing safe, functional facilities and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
A few other residents said they liked the plans and realized it was time to build new, with a few suggesting putting the matter in front of the voters through a referendum.
“I really like the plan. I think it’s awesome,” one man said, adding officials should continue to look for ways to trim the costs.
County Board Chairman Tom Kautza said there are no plans to hold a referendum. State law does not require a referendum, like it does for school districts.
“It is not intended to go to referendum,” he said.
A few residents said they favored repair and remodeling instead of building new.
The Samuels Group determined the cost to remodel would be $5 million more than building new. Crews would need to gut the entire building while it would remain in use. Once a certain point is crossed in remodeling, all infrastructure must be brought up to current code requirements.
Kautza said building new is more efficient and a better use of taxpayer dollars than continuing to remodel and repair the old existing buildings.
“Everything costs money nowadays; that’s reality,” Kautza said. “At what point do you stop spending hundreds of thousands of dollars cobbling on old buildings, and at what point do you reach the level where you should just stop and build new? That’s what this is all about.”
Supervisor Heather Pahl, fan of historic preservation efforts, acknowledged that many old buildings can be successfully remodeled but said that was not realistic in this case.
“The can got kicked down the road a lot. This could have been half the cost had it been addressed at that point in time when they’ve already outlived their useful life,” she said. “I’m not thrilled about having to spend money on things like that, but I’m also realistic in that everyone wants progress … but it takes an investment to do that.”
Supervisor Randy Mallmann agreed.
“Nobody ever wants to pay more in taxes, but I have news for you: Taxes aren’t going down,” he said. “The cost of services go up. The cost of our houses go up. Everything you buy everyday goes up. But there comes a time when we have to keep improving what we have.”
Kautza said any decision to spend millions of dollars in never popular.
“These are not easy decisions to make. It’s about being responsible and taking care of things that need to be done … and looking to the future,” he said. “If you just keep kicking the can down the road, you have nothing. That’s not progress.”
For more information, visit www.shawanocountymasterplanning.com.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
Julie Hasser, Shawano County human resources director and interim administrative coordinator, welcomes residents to an informational meeting March 12 at Shawano Community High School. Officials addressed residents and sought feedback on the proposed plans to build a new courthouse and jail housing pod. Looking on is Kurt Berner, of The Samuels Group. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
Shawano County Board Chairman Tom Kautza talks about the building plans for a new Shawano County Courthouse. An informational meeting with residents was held March 12 at Shawano Community High School. A base plan of $88.5 million will cover the cost of building a two-story courthouse west of the current building at 311 N. Main St.; this also included some auxiliary areas for the jail and a secure connection between the jail and the courthouse. (Kevin Passon | NEW Media)
