Lincoln County Safety Center discussed at public meeting

Under two dozen constituents were in attendance on Monday night to discuss the proposed Lincoln County Public Safety Building at one of the first public meetings to be held on the matter. Lincoln County Commission passed a $50 million bond issue for a public safety center at a special meeting Feb. 18.

Monday night’s meeting at Tea City Hall was the first of five meetings to be held around Lincoln County. Yet to be held is a March 17 meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. at the new Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 27711 Highway 17, Lennox and a March 24 meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Hudson Community Center, 200 Harris Street, Hudson.

During Monday night’s meeting in Tea, Sheriff Steve Swenson presented a Power Point with statistics on Lincoln County data.

He stated that from 2014 to 2019, prisoner days increased 54% 7,544 to 16,668; 2013- 2018 felony filings increased 145%; inmate housing annual costs increased 50% $569,441 to $1,150,271; and annual bookings increased 33% 1,481 to 2,214.

The financial impact snapshot provided showed the following:

•2017-2019 Average per diem $68.47

• 2020 Per diem $97.34 is a 30% increase

•2020 Cost per day $4,903.00

•2023 Projected annual cost $2,487,037

•2036 Projected annual cost $8,300,000

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