The Carroll County Board of Supervisors tabled a discussion on the necessary ballot language for a possible special election on bonding for construction of a new county jail. Carroll County Auditor, Kourtney Irlbeck, says she hated to be the bearer of bad news, but state requirements for public notifications of an intent to hold a special election include deadlines that may not be met for an August referendum.
This notice must be presented with the minutes of the board meeting at which the supervisors adopt the resolution calling for that special election. That adoption would have to take place prior to this Friday, missing the 10-day publication rule. Irlbeck adds the state sets the dates for any special elections that include a revenue purpose statement, and those are Aug. 7 and then March 5, 2019. They could include it in the general mid-term election this Nov. 6, but Supervisor, Gene Meiners, says there are pros and cons to that scenario.
Irlbeck says that recent special elections have resulted in a high percentage of voter turnout, so selecting a special date would not necessarily be a detriment to the proposed bond referendum of just below $9 million. The supervisors would also need to retain an attorney to develop the language that would go on the ballot prior to adopting the resolution. Carroll resident and local attorney, Barry Bruner, once again spoke out about the proposed placement of the estimated 16,800 square-foot facility on the west side of the Carroll County Courthouse. But after seeing updated renderings that show an exact replication of the current courthouse, he seemed more amenable to the idea that this would really be an additional wing, which was what was proposed for future expansions when the courthouse was designed over 50 years ago. This topic will be brought back for discussion at the supervisors’ next meeting, at 9 a.m. Monday, June 25. A packet of information about the proposed jail and renderings can be found below.
