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Show Gomiiussi6hers lock horns over jail DAVIS COUNTY-What was to : have been a meeting for a simple approval of the working budget for the new criminal justice complex, : deteriorated into a barrage of accu- sations and counter accusations by ' the county commissioners. When project , manager Joe Rhoads presented the final budget on the complex of $196605, ' - Commissioner Dub Lawrence made ' it clear that he did not approve of the amount "We sat here before and I requested that you reduce the costs to the $18.5 million the people approved in bonds, and you were going to do it," he said. Rhoads ex-plained ex-plained that the budget ; Comm. Lawrence had asked for was presented presen-ted in a meeting in February. : r; ? , , "I was not present at that meet-., meet-., ing, not because I was not here, I v was not invited,'' charged Comm. Lawrence. lA;: . . Visibly irritated, Rhoads said, "I work for the commissioners not a '.commissioner. I don't want to an-j an-j swer philosophical questions about your differences with the other commissioners." Comm. Lawrence answered his questions were not about "philosophical "philoso-phical differences." "The new budget you have - presented . is already nearly $1 million more than the people voted for and there is no contingency fund. It has been, my experience that there are always cost overruns. You said at one time that we needed at least an $800,000 ' contingency fund; npw we have none." . He added that while they were in the decision making process he felt it was necessary to speak out about changes that had added additional costs to the proposed complex. "There have been a number of things added, an antenna, a gasoline island, I'm just not comfortable with this budget," . said Comm. Lawrence. Lamar Holt, county fiscal analyst, pointed out .that there is a ' potential $1,633 million surplus that may come as a result of interest on . the bond funds. Comm. Lawrence answered that a possible O CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Lawrence nixes jail . , CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 O i surplus does not satisfy his con-' con-' cerns. "It is not wise for us to go -'. into the project without a contingency," conting-ency," he said. 'I've sat here for 80 days, ' continued con-tinued Comm. ' Lawrence, "and ' watched things come across the i table for my signature that I have , ' : not even seen. I have been told that those things have been discussed in V meetings in Commissioner Stevenson's Steven-son's office. The county budget has already been increased for this year." "That's standard procedure in' participatory government, my friend," said Commissioner Gayle Stevenson. "Let's try to limit the discussion ' to the subject at hand," said Commissioner Com-missioner William Peters as he hung"his head in bewilderment Comm. Lawrence continued by pointing out that the county "has no money for animal control or for helping out with the Kaysville senior citizens' center so why are we going deeper in debt,' ' he asked. "We've gone through this four times, four times," repeated Comm. Stevenson, "I think you've made your point" Undaunted, Commissioner Lawrence continued, "We've invested in-vested $4 million in county funds that are on our books today and our investment is now $60,000 below the original. We have a $1.7 million budgeted shortfall this year. We no longer have the hospital bond money to fall back on and there are no revenue sharing funds. Last fall several million was spent on purchases pur-chases that were not budgeted items," said the commissioner. Speaking of the criminal justice complex Comm. Lawrence continued, contin-ued, "We have not calculated in this project tfie cost to staff the facility faci-lity the day it opens. Before we go into this commitment I think we v need to look at the ramifications on our citizens. I believe the people would like us to hold the line," he said. ' Assistant county attorney Jerry Hess asked the commissioner, "What would you have us do?" "There have been four meetings regarding this and I've only been invited to two of them. The others have r been held behind, closed doors," responded Comm. Lawrence. "I have the same obligation obliga-tion to 180,000 constituents as these two gentlemen," he said, referring ' to the other commissioners. "What can we do to bring you to a level of comfort," asked Comm. Stevenson. "We do not intend to exclude you and that's the truth. We're dying to facilitate the process, but you need to get aboard and get the information you need. I'll be danged if I'm going to delay this project" he said, to which Mr. Rhoads added, "If we delay the bidding process now, it will cost us a great deal more money and the sheriffs department is bulging at the seams." "Part of the reason I'm having j trouble with this is that I have not been included in the meetings," reiterated re-iterated Comm. Lawrence, "and what you're saying to me gentle-' men, is that you're locked into, this." ; Comm. Peters answered, "We're ; saying that we're ready to proceed with a project we've been working on three years. This is a guideline, not a commitment Every expenditure expendi-ture will be brought back to the commission for approval." The commissioner then asked for a motion to accept the budget presented pre-sented by Mr. Rhoads. "I don't want it to cost more money," sail Comm. Lawrence. - "How long would it take for you to feel comfortable with this," askr ed Comm. Stevenson, and continued, contin-ued, "I'm personally willing to ' wait I don't think the commission ought .to go into this without your approval." "We're locked into more than we can afford," responded Comm. Lawrence. ."With that statement," said Comm. Peters, "I'll entertain a motion mo-tion to approve the budget" Comm. Stevenson moved to accept the budget proposal.. The motion was seconded by Comm. Peters and passed with a two to one vote. Comm. Lawrence voted nay to the proposal. A pre-bid conference to review the entire project with potential ' bidders, limited to general contractors, contrac-tors, will be held Monday, April 10, at 9 a.m. in the county commission chambers. |