Column: Criticism of new justice center the result of misunderstanding, misinformation
By John Pavelski
It is said that time flies when you’re having fun, and here we are nearing the end of July already. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that we were on track for finally constructing a new Justice Center for Portage County, and now that door has closed.
I believe constructing a single-campus Justice Center at a green (new) site location would have been the simplest and best solution to our long-established needs for a safe and modern courthouse, jail, and Law Enforcement Center in Portage County. However, while the concept of embarking on this project was approved by the County Board, the Board then failed to fund the project. While the entire membership of the county board voiced the need for a new facility, it is very difficult to get the necessary supermajority (19 out of 24) of County Supervisors to agree on a location to fund.
The price tag was considerable. Curiously, the county was criticized for hiring top-tier architects with established expertise in courthouse and jail construction. It appears as if the lesson of hiring the cheapest for the sake of cheap was not learned the hard way when our current jail was constructed in 1991. The current Portage County Jail, which is deficient in many ways, and was so from its inception, is the physical embodiment of “you get what you pay for,” but that story has been reiterated many times.
I believe much of the criticism of the project came from those misunderstanding the construction design, not understanding the financial ramifications, and not looking for the best interest of the whole County.
But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
If you can’t afford or agree on a new house, you must remodel the one you have. Remodeling and reconfiguring will work for the courthouse, but not for the jail.
The jail cannot be remodeled. The briefest way to explain why is that once the renovation begins, the jail MUST be brought up to the current State code. Because of the limits imposed by the jail structure, there isn’t enough room, and updating the existing space will render it inadequate for our needs now, to say nothing of the potential for future needs.
Portage County desperately needs a safe and secure jail, so expect to see an upcoming proposal for a new stand-alone jail and Law Enforcement Center. Plans for improving safety and security in the courthouse, which is the responsibility of the Portage County Space and Properties Committee, are being worked on. This courthouse building will never be modern, but its safety can be greatly improved.
Unfortunately, the courthouse and jail are not the only county buildings in serious need of repair or replacement right now. If you have been following the news, it’s likely you are aware of the severe water damage inflicted on the Ruth Gilfry Center because of a water main break. This is a sobering reminder that buildings and structures, even though well maintained, age and wear out over time. They do not last in perpetuity.
Government is not designed to move quickly. As Portage County works to repair, remodel, and secure our buildings in a timely manner, keep in mind that inaction is no longer an option.
We must open the door and move forward together in solving the county’s building needs.
John Pavelski is the Portage County Executive and can be reached at 715.346.1999.
