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Show THE ZEPHYR PAGE 12 somewhere left of right by Jane S. Jones had planned on witting about soma New Year's Resolutions, attempting to plant a seed of cooperation and maybe even understanding between warring factions about town. I was also going to expand on the Idea of some kind of civic forum next year, where representative political types and organization spokespersons could come together with a desire to find new solutions to old problems, and help Grand County's economy move forward on many fronts without selling out to anyone. But I got tripped up by this CourthouseJall renovation thing rearing Its shiny forehead again. Talk about life after death. There seems to be a clear message from the Commissioners and It says, "We're going to keep doing this until we get It through. In case you haven't heard, theres going to be another special election, on the $4.5 million renovation of the Courthouse, next February. You see, I thought we had a special election last October where voters said NO to the $4.5 million bond. I wonder why that special election was held to see what the voters thought perhaps? Or Just to spend the money a special election costs? We all closely read the reasoning behind why the Commissioners thought we had to do this big project A special mailing was even prepared and distributed, and we got a media blitz to boot Uniformed, we were not The voters should be Insulted. The County Commissioners don't think Grand I County can read. The Courthouse Doesn't Look Uke Its In Shambles Ill make some obvious suggestions. Let's get an estimate by a local electrician as to what he would charge to fix the bad wiring and Install outlets for some ventilation fans In the Courthouse. Maybe a local merchant has some fans that he would sell to the County so we could solve that problem. Next, let's move the courtrooms downstairs so there will be no problem with handicapped access. The upstairs? Rent It to a private party If the County cant legally have any offices without handicapped access. Just for the record, there should be an estimate obtained on the cost of attaching an elevator on the outside of the Courthouse to provide handicapped access to the existing courtrooms. Not enough room to have everything downstairs? Move offices out State offices have their own funding sources. They'll have plenty of choices of office space elsewhere downtown. Any other perceived problems can be solved In the same common sense fashion. And by the way, anyone now employed by the County can compile these kind of ballpark figures. We dont need to spend thousands on "feasibility studies, Just hourly wages for some brainstorming, phone calls, some typing. We have to remember what Its called: the County Courthouse. That pretty well defines the priorities. The courts and County records need to be there, along with the Clerk, Recorder and Assessor. non-Cou- nty JAN-FE- B 1991 That Is how Jail Improvements should be handled. And If overcrowding could cause some prisoners to consider lawsuRs against the County because of substandard condRions, then under absolutely nq circumstances should the Jail be allowed to become overcrowded. Extra prisoners get shipped elsewhere, Just like other Jails operate. At some time In the future, when the economy of the County Is flourishing, the will be more Inclined to consider major Jail renovations. people Another reason given to redo the Jail Is so we can take In extra prisoners and get paid by the State for doing so. Apparently, our Jail Is not adequate at the present time to take on extra prisoners. I'm not surprised at that It Isnt what the Jail was buIR for. Therefore, so the argument goes, we need a new, big Jail so we can go Into the business of providing a place for homeless prisoners. Hold R right there. Ifs not the County's Job to make money. Rather, the County's Job Is to provide a few essential services at the lowest possible cost to the people. The people are then able to devote their energies and funds to furthering their own business ventures. This produces a healthy communRy. Taxes paid on property and commerce go to the County to cover the costs of the communRy services R provides. It Is really very simple and effective and works Just as well now as R has In the past So thats why I get a bit Incoherent when I hear about having to have a new Jail. It will only cost a few million so we can make a few thousand. Once we throw out the Idea of making money on holding prisoners for the State, the need for the new Jail vanishes. The Bla "A" Word No One Wants To Sav This has been a brief discussion of something called "ARematives. Why Isnt the County Commission providing alternatives to the voters? R doesn't have to be $4.5 million or nothing. Come to the Commission meetings and tell them so. Your be fun!" yard can with & Simplify your irrigation system drippers mini-sprinkle- rs so-cal- led Jallhouse A County JalL.fts supposed to hold people arrested In this County. Its been that for doing quite sometime, because like the Courthouse, the Jail Is not a new facility. But, age does not equate with unsafeness or Illegality. Or Is there a law that says a Jail must be rebuilt every few years? The proposed budget for the Jail In 1991 Is $215,849. In that budget, there Is an amount set aside for maintenance undoubtedly and repairs. Maybe this figure needs to be Increased to solve some problems. The total spent by the Jail would remain the same, but Just as In every persons financial picture, If one Rem runs higher than expected, something else Is cut out to make the books balance. zeke and maralee francis Four Comers Design (across from , the post office) Its January Business is slow... 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