The site search for Haywood County’s $30 million justice center and jail is still on as commissioners emerged from two-hour closed session Monday (Dec. 3) and took no action.

“They are still being considered. All of them,” said Chairman Jim Stevens, referring to the three sites that are currently under consideration for what promises to be the largest capital building project in county history.

Many had speculated that the county would take action on a 20-acre site on Ratcliffe Cove during the meeting. Commissioner Wade Francis told the press last week that he thought the county should purchase that land, and he wanted to let people know of the pending purchase beforehand.

Although Francis wouldn’t divulge the price, the land is reportedly being offered by John Queen and an adjoining property owner for about $90,000 per acre.

The other two sites still being discussed are the downtown location adjacent to the current courthouse and a site in Hazelwood at the location of the old A.C. Lawrence Tannery. That 13-acre tract is owned by Tim Welch and would cost $617,000.

County attorney Chip Killian said all three sites were discussed in the closed session because commissioners are trying to put together a package to site both the justice center and the jail. If the justice center is built downtown, then the county still needs land for a jail, said Killian. Trying to come up with the right combination is “difficult,” he said.

“The board is trying to come to a consensus on this, maybe not a unanimous decision, but a consensus,” said Killian after the closed session.

The site selection process has slowed the project since October when commissioners voted to purchase an option on the Hazelwood site. Waynesville refused to rezone the site, and focus then turned to the Ratcliffe Cove site. Francis is the only commissioner who has publicly supported that site, while Commisioner Mary Ann Enloe has said Hazelwood was her first choice and downtown Waynesville her second.

Originally, the project was planned to go out for bids in January. The plans drawn up by architects, however, were criticized by many — including some commissioners.

County Manager Jack Horton said Monday that the space needs study conducted by Howard Geisler of GSA — which was used to determine the square footage and individual department needs — was only a recommendation and parts of it could be ignored by commissioners as they proceed with the project. That report has come under fire from many following the justice center debate who say its calculations are flawed.

“I think (the Geisler report) is very accurate, but it may not be adhered to,” said Stevens.

Enloe said she did not believe the report adequately projected the county’s future needs.

Commissioners set no date for further discussion on the justice center project.

 

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