Chambana Sun

Champaign County Jail Facilities Committee met Sept. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Committee Members

Present: Kyle Patterson, Jim McGuire, Brad Passalacqua, Chris Stohr, Steve Summers, Leah Taylor (All Via Zoom)

Absent: Stan Harper

County Staff: Darlene Kloeppel (County Executive) Dana Brenner (Facilities Director), Dan Busey (Recording Clerk)

Others Present: Dustin Heureman (Sheriff), Karen Voges (Captain), Chuck Reifsteck (Reifsteck Reid Architecture), Aaron Esry (County Board Member), Jennifer Straub (County Board Member), Mary King (County Board Member)

Agenda Items

I. Call to Order

Committee Chair Patterson called the meeting to order at 6:33 P.M.

II. Roll Call

Upon Roll Call 7 committee members were shown to be present via zoom and a quorum was determined.

III. Approval of Agenda/Addendum

Moved by Ms. Taylor to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Summers Upon Roll Call Vote, the Motion Carried Unanimously.

IV. Public Participation

Micah McMahon, Champaign County Corrections Officer, spoke briefly about jail consolidation. Mr. McMahon urged the committee members not to do the bare minimum. Mr. McMahon then lost internet connection.

V. Communications

Ms. Taylor informed the committee that she would need to leave at 7 P.M. to attend another meeting.

VI. New Business

A. Jail Facility Discussion.

Mr. Patterson pointed to the updated master plan for public safety. It is a reduced version that is for about half as much as the 2019 version. Mr. Patterson gave a brief history of the master plan and the needs the facilities are currentlly facing. Sheriff Heureman stated that Mr. Brenner, Ms.

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Voges, and Mr. Reifsteck have been in conversations regarding what it will take for a 20-million dollar plan to consolidate within jail standards. Mr. Reifsteck pointed out that the reason there is stricken text from the proposed plan was to stress that this is not a complete master plan but does provide the minimum needed to close the downtown facility. Mr. McGuire asked Mr. Reifsteck to explain what will be done with 20-million-dollars, because he believes it is important for the public to understand what will not be done. Mr. Reifsteck said that it would include 2 housing pods, whereas the 2019 plan included 3. The 2 pods to be added are envisioned to be flexible to allow the ability to create separation of inmates by classification. Mr. Reifsteck went over the specifics of the pods as well as the health care area. Mr. Reifsteck also highlighted changes that could be made to the existing space as well. While there are no renovations to the booking area the plan would eliminate using the booking area for permanent housing as it is currently being used. A secure refuge area will also be included for emergency use. Crash bollards will also be included for security around the building.

Mr. Reifsteck cautioned that these are very difficult times to estimate costs. While consulting with Gilbain Construction there has been an escalation factor placed on the plan to cover the unknowns which has been factored in. Mr. McGuire asked if this were to be tabled further how much the costs would increase. Mr. Reifsteck stated traditionally escalation costs were 4 to 5% a year and that one would hope that by next spring the market will have adjusted. He went on to say that revisiting this year after year has taken this project from a 30-million-dollar full plan to now a 20-million-dollar plan that only covers the bare minimum. Mr. McGuire said that the cost is important however the people who have been injured, and the safety of the people incarcerated is even more important.

Captain Voges shared her concerns that as soon as this is built it will immediately be full and gave a rundown of the current jail population. Captain Voges voiced that she believes she will still be using booking for permanent housing even with this plan. Mr. Passalacqua thanked Mr. Reifsteck and went on to say he does not like bare minimums, but something must be done. Mr. Reifsteck and Mr. Passalacqua had a discussion of the lay out of the health care unit. This should create more opportunity to segregate individuals and give flexibility of how to house inmates.

Mr. Passalacqua voiced his appreciation for addressing the housing of individuals with mental health needs and went on to say the largest cost is that of procrastination. Mr. Patterson inquired about inmate program space. Mr. Heureman said it is not reducing any current space it is just not creating any new space for programs. Mr. Patterson asked for insight about what the different units would look like. Mr. Reifsteck stated that this would be done during the schematic design phase if the project were to move forward. However, some sketch work has been done to ensure the pods that are being presented would work and Mr. Reifsteck believes that it in fact would work. Further discussion would need to be done with jail staff to meet their needs.

A conversation between Mr. Patterson and Ms. Voges ensued about the fluctuation of the female population. ADA compliance and the specific requirements of ADA for a jail design were addressed. Mr. Stohr and Mr. Reifsteck had conversation about the logistics of the pods being able to house males and females. The thought with the new pods is to have smaller divisions in effort to maximize space while still creating necessary visual and sound separation. Mr. Stoher went on to inquire about the single pass air flow in the medical unit as well as the rest of jail. Mr. Reifsteck believes that this needs to be revisited with a mechanical engineer during design regarding the handling of air in the facility. A conversation about the costs and logistics of one pass air ensued. Mr. Reifsteck stressed that being a 24/7 365 day a year facility that a geothermal or very efficient mechanical system would pay for itself within a few years over the life of the building. Mr. McGuire and Mr. Brenner had a conversation about HVAC equipment regarding COVID changes.

Mr. McGuire voiced his concerns with the ability to house inmates regarding the state of crime in the community. Mr. McGuire and Mr. Reifsteck had a conversation about costs of waiting further to begin consolidation. The consensus was that if the process began in November an estimate of completion would be almost 3 years. Mr. McGuire broke down the estimated costs of waiting until the 2022 election. Mr. Reifsteck spoke briefly about the state of the Downtown Jail and the fact that several aspects of the Facility were at their life during the 2019 study. Mr. Summers spoke to the point of waiting until 2022 and said this committee has been charged with coming to a decision by November 2021. Mr. McGuire thanked Mr. Summers for his comments and stated that this is an emergency that should not be delayed.

A conversation about details of housing units and population ensued between Mr. Patterson and Captain Voges. It was established that remodeling of current pods is not part of the current plan. Mr. Reifsteck stated that remodeling existing pods could be around a 1.1-million-dollar project that would also lose capacity for housing. Mr. Patterson asked about the cost savings of consolidation beyond housing inmates out of the county. Sheriff Heureman mentioned some the savings would be eliminating the need to transport laundry, food, and inmates back in forth. Sheriff Heureman stated staffing would not be reduced as they are at critical levels currently. Captain Voges pointed out the outdated equipment and repairs and maintenance of the failing Downtown Jail would create some savings.

Mr. Stohr asked about the cost of demolition of the Downtown Jail. Mr. Brenner informed the committee that 2 years ago it was somewhere in the magnitude of 800-thousand-dollars. A conversation about the timeline of demolition of the Downtown Jail followed. Mr. Summers urged the committee to stay focused on what needs to be done to move the inmates and corrections staff out of the Downtown Jail. Mr. Summers went on to say that the reason immediate savings will not be seen is due to the inadequate staffing but believes there may be savings down the road once fully staffed.

Ms. Straub thanked everyone for their time put into resolving the issue. Mr. Esry held that he is disappointed that the bare minimum is being done, with that said at this point he would support it due to the issues it has created. Mr. Esry specified that this needs to be done now. Mr. Summers said that a plan needs to be determined how the consolidation will be paid for and needs to be brought to the Finance Committee. Mr. McGuire asked what other money is available beyond ARPA Funds and spoke about the safety concerns regarding not moving forward. Mr. Patterson and Mr. Reifsteck had a further conversation about inmate program space.

Mr. Summers reiterated once again that he would like to act by December of this year. Mr. Passalacqua agreed with Mr. Summers and addressed funding options stating he believes this a strong contender for ARPA Funds. Mr. McGuire asked about meetings discussing financing to which Mr. Patterson replied that this is the goal of the next meeting.

VII. Other Business

A. Date of Next Meeting

October 6, 2021 at 6:30 P.M.

VIII. Chair’s Report

None.

IX. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:49 P.M.

https://www.co.champaign.il.us/CountyBoard/Jail%20Facilities/2021/211006_Meeting/210908Minutes.pdf