News - pcgazette.com

News

Lincoln Center gets priority over jail

By BRIAN LEAHY
of The Gazette
Meeting space needs requirement for the Lincoln Center comes before building another jail, according to the Portage County Board chairman.

"We're definitely going to build a facility for the retirees and it's going to be a lot better than what you have now," County Board Chairman Clarence Hintz said. "This is No. 1 on our priority (list) right now."

Building a new jail is second on the priority list, Hintz said.

Hintz's comments came at a Lincoln Center Building Task Force meeting Tuesday, Aug. 3.

The 18-year-old Lincoln Center is at capacity, said Department on Aging Director Janet Zander. More space is needed for additional programming and to meet the needs of an aging population.

Department on Aging officials previously developed a plan to add onto the Lincoln Center, but the recent availability of the Associated Bank Annex (the old Weber Tackle building) has added to the mix of possible space solutions. Further complicating matters is more jail space is needed. One jail space option calls for razing the Lincoln Center to make room for a jail addition to the Law Enforcement Center.

If a downtown jail addition was selected, the senior center would move into new quarters before the Lincoln Center was razed, Hintz said.

Expanding the Lincoln Center to the south and adding parking would cost about $2 million, Zander told The Gazette. This option is the only one with firm numbers available. The department will probably include that option in its capital improvement request for the upcoming budget cycle, but ask to change its request if other options become available.

"Associated Bank is a big question mark for now," Hintz said.

The "gut reaction" of an architect who walked through the bank annex is the building would work for a senior center, but no remodeling costs are known, said Portage County Planning and Zoning Director Charles Kell. The bank's offer to sell the building expires in December.

County officials have several "ifs" to sort through before they can make any decisions on the senior center and jail projects.

Zander sees four variables for the senior center building project - acquiring the Associated Bank annex given other parties are interested in buying the building, the feasibility of remodeling the bank annex versus other options, the need to buy houses to the south of the Lincoln Center for a jail or center expansion, and whether the Jail Study Committee decides to build a jail downtown or at a remote site.

A lot hinges on the opinions of city staff, the mayor and Common Council on the county buying property in the neighborhood for a jail and future jail expansion, Kell said.

"If they don't support that and won't vote for that, our project here is dead. It won't go forward," Kell said.

Owners of the homes that would need to be acquired and others in the neighborhood won't be receptive, said one resident.

"I will tell you, you will have opposition," said Bonnie Maher, owner of the Dreams of Yesteryear Bed and Breakfast at 1100 Brawley St.

County officials said they expected there would be opposition.

"We don't even know if we're going to stay here," said Jerome Borski, County Board and Lincoln Center Building Task Force member. "We may move."

Neighbors would object more to building a jail in the area than they would to adding onto the Lincoln Center, Maher said.

"Why don't you take this thing (a new jail) and put it out on Highway 10, where you have an empty lot," Maher said. "Our thieves and criminals don't need prime real estate in downtown Stevens Point."

At the last Jail Study Committee, consultant Bob Deichman presented a conceptual plan for constructing a 200-bed facility adjacent to the Law Enforcement Center that would require acquiring 11 properties in the neighborhood and vacating Elk Street between Arlington Place and Brawley Street. The concept abandons the current jail part of the 9-year-old Law Enforcement Center and leaves room for a 200-bed expansion.

An expansion of the Law Enforcement Center or the Lincoln Center both call for acquiring properties to the south of the Lincoln Center.

"So a lot of our future decisions hinge upon whether that would occur," Zander said.

The department has received feedback from many people wanting to keep the senior center in the downtown area, where it is close to elderly housing units and on a bus route, Zander said.



	Lincoln Center gets priority over jail By BRIAN LEAHY of The Gazette Meeting space needs requirement for the Lincoln Center comes before building another jail, according to the Portage County Board chairman. "We're definitely going to build a facility for the retirees and it's going to be a lot better than what you have now," County Board Chairman Clarence Hintz said. "This is No. 1 on our priority (list) right now." Building a new jail is second on the priority list, Hintz said. Hintz's comments came at a Lincoln Center Building Task Force meeting Tuesday, Aug. 3. The 18-year-old Lincoln Center is at capacity, said Department on Aging Director Janet Zander. More space is needed for additional programming and to meet the needs of an aging population. Department on Aging officials previously developed a plan to add onto the Lincoln Center, but the recent availability of the Associated Bank Annex (the old Weber Tackle building) has added to the mix of possible space solutions. Further complicating matters is more jail space is needed. One jail space option calls for razing the Lincoln Center to make room for a jail addition to the Law Enforcement Center. If a downtown jail addition was selected, the senior center would move into new quarters before the Lincoln Center was razed, Hintz said. Expanding the Lincoln Center to the south and adding parking would cost about $2 million, Zander told The Gazette. This option is the only one with firm numbers available. The department will probably include that option in its capital improvement request for the upcoming budget cycle, but ask to change its request if other options become available. "Associated Bank is a big question mark for now," Hintz said. The "gut reaction" of an architect who walked through the bank annex is the building would work for a senior center, but no remodeling costs are known, said Portage County Planning and Zoning Director Charles Kell. The bank's offer to sell the building expires in December. County officials have several "ifs" to sort through before they can make any decisions on the senior center and jail projects. Zander sees four variables for the senior center building project - acquiring the Associated Bank annex given other parties are interested in buying the building, the feasibility of remodeling the bank annex versus other options, the need to buy houses to the south of the Lincoln Center for a jail or center expansion, and whether the Jail Study Committee decides to build a jail downtown or at a remote site. A lot hinges on the opinions of city staff, the mayor and Common Council on the county buying property in the neighborhood for a jail and future jail expansion, Kell said. "If they don't support that and won't vote for that, our project here is dead. It won't go forward," Kell said. Owners of the homes that would need to be acquired and others in the neighborhood won't be receptive, said one resident. "I will tell you, you will have opposition," said Bonnie Maher, owner of the Dreams of Yesteryear Bed and Breakfast at 1100 Brawley St. County officials said they expected there would be opposition. "We don't even know if we're going to stay here," said Jerome Borski, County Board and Lincoln Center Building Task Force member. "We may move." Neighbors would object more to building a jail in the area than they would to adding onto the Lincoln Center, Maher said. "Why don't you take this thing (a new jail) and put it out on Highway 10, where you have an empty lot," Maher said. "Our thieves and criminals don't need prime real estate in downtown Stevens Point." At the last Jail Study Committee, consultant Bob Deichman presented a conceptual plan for constructing a 200-bed facility adjacent to the Law Enforcement Center that would require acquiring 11 properties in the neighborhood and vacating Elk Street between Arlington Place and Brawley Street. The concept abandons the current jail part of the 9-year-old Law Enforcement Center and leaves room for a 200-bed expansion. An expansion of the Law Enforcement Center or the Lincoln Center both call for acquiring properties to the south of the Lincoln Center. "So a lot of our future decisions hinge upon whether that would occur," Zander said. The department has received feedback from many people wanting to keep the senior center in the downtown area, where it is close to elderly housing units and on a bus route, Zander said.