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Residents press Yates County for more transparency on jail planning; Legislature outlines process
Summary
Public commenters at the June 8 Yates County Legislature meeting urged greater transparency and citizen involvement in jail planning; legislators said schematic design and property analysis are underway and noted some deliberations must occur in executive session for public-safety and negotiation reasons.
Multiple residents used the public comment period to press the Legislature for more openness about the county's criminal justice facility work and to request a citizens' advisory role in ongoing planning.
Allison Stewart asked that "members of the public [be] included on their upcoming tour of the Greene County Public Safety Facility," framing that as an opportunity for community learning. Barbara Craig urged three steps: hold a public hearing, create a citizens committee to accompany facility tours and request that the Ad Hoc Committee meet publicly when possible. Denise Hopkins later echoed calls for a citizens' ad hoc committee and asked whether the Legislature wanted public input.
Several legislators and staff described the current project stage. Doug Paddock said the county has hired architect/engineering and construction management firms and is working through schematic design to better predict space and cost. He stated that at this point "no decision has been made to build a new jail or a new public safety facility," and that schematic work will provide more accurate cost and space information for later legislative action.
Chairwoman Leslie Church and other legislators acknowledged that some discussions must occur in executive session because of property negotiations, safety and procurement concerns. The Legislature voted to enter executive session to discuss proposed sale/lease of real property and personnel matters. The meeting record also notes an ad hoc Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is being reconstituted and includes public members who could be avenues for engagement.
Next steps: schematic design and property analyses will continue; when substantive decisions or contract awards are ready, they will return for public committee and legislative consideration.
