Published: October 23, 2009 11:11 am      

Building and grounds committee scrutinizes Community Complex

This month’s Building and Grounds Committee meeting began with a discussion of the contractual dealings between Cumberland County and the Cumberland County Fair Association, Inc. Since the contract permits the Fair Association to receive a “dollar for dollar credit against lease amounts to be paid, for certain expenditures at the Community Complex actually expended by the Lessee,” Commissioner Harvel asked the representatives of the Fair Association what their investment in the complex had been from 2002 to the current date and what their gate receipts had been for the same period. He stated that he could find no record of the information, even though the contract requires that the data be presented to the committee on an annual basis.  Everett Bolin, president of the Fair Association, reported that the roof repairs authorized and funded by the Association in 2009 cost approximately 10 percent of the gate receipts (annual lease amount) in 2009. After some discussion concerning historical data, Bolin said the Association would research the requested information and would contact the chairman of the committee to schedule another meeting in November, when they have the data to present. It was also noted that the most recent contract between the county and the Fair Association had expired in 2005 and a new contract is required.

A comprehensive presentation was then made by Donnie Moody, Community Complex employee, covering the Complex Grounds and Services, two years of budgeted and actual revenues and expenses, and a calendar of usage during the last two years. During the last two fiscal years, the Complex has cost the taxpayers $150,000 to $200,000 net of revenue to operate. Moody also presented a list of staff suggestions to improve the financial performance of the Community Complex, many of which were thought to have merit and should be implemented.  The Committee thanked Moody for an excellent presentation, and took the staff recommendations under advisement.

Under other business, Judicial Commissioner Benton Threet reported there was still no plan to provide offices for the judicial commissioners when the new jail/justice center is opened. It was also reported that prisoner visitation monitors and phones had been installed in the small courtroom in the existing Justice Center, which caused concern about what the use of that courtroom would be once the expanded center is opened. It was decided to recess the meeting until later in the week and to move the meeting to the Justice Center, so that the sheriff could be present and the issues could be addressed. The meeting was recessed at 6:45 p.m.

The meeting was reconvened by the chairman at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2009. It was determined that the drawing prepared by the architect for the committee’s February meeting, showing the relocation of the judicial commissioners offices, within the existing building, could still be used. It was agreed that Sheriff Burgess would contact the prisoner construction group supervisor to get a cost estimate to construct the offices once the new jail/justice center is completed, occupied and a source of funds is identified. Since the courtroom will only be used for video visitation of prisoners on the weekends, Commissioner Harvel then motioned that the current small courtroom could be used for prisoner visitation, training, and for meetings, but that the ability to reconfigure the room as a courtroom was to be maintained. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Inman and approved by unanimous voice vote.

Sheriff Burgess presented a security concern with the lack of railings or barriers between the trial participants’ areas and the visitors' seating area, especially in the new large courtrooms. Commissioner Sabine reported that the district judges had requested that barriers not be included when they had their review with the architect. It was the consensus of the committee that Sue Tollett, clerk and master, should call a meeting at the new courtrooms to include a criminal judge representative, the state fire marshall, and the sheriff to resolve the security concerns and report back to the committee. 

As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions, suggestions, concerns, issues or comments at 484-4137 or e-mail at cocomlynch@comcast.net.