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New jail barely approved by voters in 2015
Throughout the year, the Bourbon County Commissioners were faced with several large projects.
Perhaps the biggest project is the construction of a new county jail, named the Bourbon County Law Enforcement Center.
In April, voters were asked to approve a .4 percent county-wide retail sales increase to fund a $6.8 million bond issue for the jail. The issue passed by 16 votes, perhaps once again proving every vote counts.
On Jan. 23, commissioners agreed to enter into a contract with Goldberg Group Architects PC of St. Joseph, Mo., after seeing the results from a community survey. The survey was conducted in December 2014 by Patron Insights of Stilwell to determine whether the community would support a jail project.
At the same time, the commissioners asked Greg Vahrenberg, financial advisor from Piper Jaffray of Leawood, to draft a resolution to the state legislators asking that a state statute be amended to allow Bourbon County to increase its retail sales tax to fund a new jail. The amendment paved the way for the question to go on the local ballot in April.
Between January and April, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Southeast Regional Correctional Center Jail Administrator Bobby Reed and GGA President Larry Goldberg, continued the local campaign for the bond issue.
Voters passed the issue without knowing where the 22,000-square-foot, 74-bed facility would be located. Several sites were considered. On Sept. 17, commissioners signed an agreement to purchase 13.7 acres along Jayhawk and Liberty Bell roads. Then, less than two weeks later, that decision was rescinded when several individuals with connections to the Christian Learning Center, located at 3200 Liberty Bell Road, south of the site, expressed their concern for having a jail located near the school. On Sept. 29, commissioners announced the search for a site would resume.
During a special meeting on Nov. 12, commissioners signed a contingency agreement to purchase about 6 acres at 323 E. 20th Street for $200,000 from Cullor Inc.
In August, Universal Construction of Lenexa won the contract to serve as the construction manager at-risk for the project.
The retail sales tax increase to fund the project took effect Oct. 1.
On Dec. 15, commissioners were told the project is most likely over-budget, as construction costs have increased. Another factor the plans are being drawn for a structure slightly more than 22,000-square feet, due to the fact that precast materials are being used.