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County passes on extra land near jail site

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By JEAN ORTIZ / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 - 04:30:42 pm CDT

Lancaster County commissioners have decided not to pursue acquiring more land near the site of the new county jail, at least for now.

They had considered picking up 22 acres of wetlands directly south of the new jail site at Southwest 40th and West O streets, but after more study determined it would not be a worthwhile pursuit.

Consultants assessed the additional site, at a cost to the county of $1,000, finding that more study was needed, among other tasks the County Board would have to consider. But commissioners didn’t write off a deal entirely.

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“If those guys are willing to donate it, we’d certainly be open,” Commissioner Bernie Heier said Thursday.

The land’s owner, West O Properties, sold the county 37 acres for the jail site in November. It will offer plenty of room for the new jail, but the additional space could give the county some options, including the possibility of building a lake or retention pond to help heat and cool the jail, county officials had said.

The deal for the additional land, referred to as a possible donation, was first discussed in December. The land, mostly flood plains and wetlands, is assessed at $96,529, according to records in the County Assessor’s Office.

The jail site has a small pocket of wetlands that could still be used for an energy project, county property manager Don Killeen said.

Reach Jean Ortiz at 473-7107 or jortiz@journalstar.com.


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more studies wrote on March 27, 2008 5:41 pm:
" Yea, lets throw more and more money at these studies. what a waste of money. I remember listening to some "consultant" talk about how the area at 48th and O street was blighted during a city council meeting. He threw up a couple pictures showing some ceiling tiles drooping in a building another picture showed weeds overgrowing in a parking lot, another with broken windows. What a waist of money. "

 unl guy wrote on March 28, 2008 9:05 am:
" I still don't see why Lancaster, Seward and Gage counties, all of which are building a jail, can't go together and build one big one instead of three. Seems like a waste of money. "

 LISTEN UP wrote on March 28, 2008 9:30 am:
" I think they should just get the land because the jail will need it eventually anyway. As the city grows the crime goes up, thats just the way it is. The diverson program, community corrections (house arrest), and community service programs do help relieve the high population of the jail. But eventually the jail will have to expand and it will save money just to get the land now and build on when they need it. A lake for heating and cooling is a great idea because it will save taxpayers money on heating and cooling costs. Not to mention visual appeal. I really don't think people should dog the county board for building a new jail. This needs to be done. There are certain standards the jail must meet to keep open. They have been out of compliance for years now. The inmates are so crowded that they had to start shipping them out to other counties. Costing the taxpayers even more money, millions of dollars down the drain. The new jail is needed, i know it will cost a lot of money. But eventually it will save the county money. Maybe they can put that savings into some streets with some bad potholes!!!!! "

 So Wrong wrote on March 28, 2008 9:50 am:
" Yes, let's build a jail out WEST and build a Wal-Mart out EAST. This is so wrong. "

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