Wilkin County Jail Administrator Matt Brodina discussed a potential addition to the jail, which is currently at capacity, with Wilkin County commissioners Monday. Brodina mentioned a program called the Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP), which makes agreements with state and local jails to provide capital investment funding in exchange for guaranteed bed space. The program is for federal prisoners only and usually requires 90 percent of the capacity of the addition, but it is possible the addition would be fully funded. The county would likely be required to pay for staffing.
"The real situation is that the feds need housing, and Clay County needs housing," said Brodina, later, who described the good relationship built between Wilkin County and Clay. "We're going to take care of [Clay] because they need the help."
The benefits of the addition include the creation of jobs and revenue, increasing the tax base and decreasing levy spending. But the downside, Brodina said, would be creating the building and bringing in federal inmates. Brodina attended the meeting to communicate his own thoughts to the commissioners and the public, which will be impacted the most.
"They really need to be figured into the equation," he said.
Commissioners made no move to approve the paperwork for the program and were hesitant to commit without hard facts in front of them.
"Nothing is set in stone," said Brodina. "If this ever comes to fruition, this is a years-down-the-road thing."
The board will wait until further information can be provided before making any final decision.
In other business:
Wilkin County is purchasing a new John Deere 770D grader for the Wolverton, Minn., shop. The Wilkin County Commission discussed the lease purchase agreement for a grader with RDO Equipment in Moorhead, Minn., at the Monday morning meeting. County Engineer Tom Richels said the county will purchase the new motor grader in three equal payments of $66,000.
"As soon as we get everything delivered, it should take about 45 days to be delivered," said Brady Burgess, a salesman for RDO Equipment in Moorhead.
In December, Commissioners also approved the trade-in of a 1991 John Deere grader that was deemed inoperative in Breckenridge. The estimated amount to overhaul the Breckenridge grader was $20,000.
Richels also informed the board that the County Highway Department received an advance of $1.4 million for the County State Aid Highway Project (CSAH), which will allow the department to do an 8 mile bituminous surfacing project from Truck Highway 9 west to Wilkin County 3. The board unanimously approved bids to be opened for a meeting on Feb. 12.
The Wilkin County Highway Department also intends to have four bridge replacement projects ready for letting early this summer. Projects will occur in Foxhome Township, Nordick Township and north of the county line. Another will project will be on Wilkin Road 169, south of Minnesota Highway 210.
The board unanimously approved the $21,105 purchase of a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria squad car from Denny Hecker's Monitcello Ford dealership in Monticello, Minn.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. The Daily News is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in wahpetondailynews.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the The Daily News. The Daily News does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized The Daily News spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!