Because Haywood County commissioners have had such a torturous time choosing a site for the new justice center and jail, an issue that is just as important has been brushed aside — space needs and the size of the facility. The county is on track to build a new justice center with what appears to be a flawed space needs plan. It is time to back off, slow down, and reassess.

Several citizens who have experience studying programming and space needs have repeatedly pointed out obvious flaws and contradictions in the two studies — the comprehensive plan prepared by Howard Geisler and the more generalized report prepared by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Even Joe Sam Queen, a local architect who severed his relationship with the Orlando architectural firm hired to design the building, believes the Geisler report needs some adjustments.

The Geisler study, primarily, is what has driven the planning for this $30 million project. It has been pointed out to commissioners that the figures which are the underpinning of the entire plan are suspect. Projected future case filings do not mesh in the Geisler and AOC reports.

Another of the most glaring holes in the Geisler study is one that will be most difficult to assess — the lack of consideration given to the impact technology will have on court functions and county government. No doubt a lot less space (for example, storage of records in the register of deeds and clerks of court office) will be needed for some functions. For others, modernization will reduce the need for staff, both in the justice center and the county offices.

Perhaps most problematic in this whole plan is the lack of regard to the changing demographics of Haywood County. This shortcoming also points out the lack of cooperation between the town of Waynesville and the county on this project, and how that lack of cooperation may lead to problems.

The Geisler report uses case filing numbers from the 1990s as the primary factor in projecting case filings, personnel, and space needs for the future. That sounds OK, but it neglects the fact that our population as a whole is aging. Data used in the Waynesville land-use study predicts that the county will grow by 9,550 people from 2000 to 2020. Of those, 8,260 — 86.5 percent — will be 60 or older.

Now, we know elderly people aren’t saints, but they are much less involved in the justice system, hence they won’t be making huge demands on the criminal courts. The 0 to 39 age group is expected to increase by only 1,500 in this same time period. (The 40 to 59 age group is expected to lose about 250 people).

A lot of energy and time has been spent debating whether the new justice center building should be three or four stories, and whether a parking deck is necessary. Those considerations are important, as is the site location.

But the truth is that the needs should drive these considerations. If Geisler’s report is flawed, then the county is destined to overbuild and buy more land than is necessary. Until the county has a needs assessment it can use to make wise choices, other issues — like location and how much land to buy — are secondary.

Sometimes projects driven by politics assume a life of their own, motivating leaders to take action out of a simple and understandable desire to “move on.” In this case, intense public scrutiny and this desire to get going on a controversial project are clouding the fundamental issue of building a justice center and jail that serve the needs of the county.

County commissioners originally had the process right when they assessed needs and then moved on to the site acquisition process. But now that citizens — and commissioners — can see that the first part of the process was flawed, it is time to retrace earlier steps before moving forward. It’s the right thing to do.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News