The Herkimer County Legislature Wednesday voted to approve the appraisal of property in the town of Schuyler that is being considered for the construction of a new county correctional facility and possible future industrial development.
The 11-6 vote authorized Paul K. Hatzinger of Utica to perform a market value appraisal of two parcels of land consisting of 164.5 acres.
Legislators John Brezinski, Joseph Chilelli, Robert Hyde, Dennis Korce, Helen Rose and Fred Shaw cast the dissenting votes.
Chilelli, District 3, said that he could not support the resolution because he does not agree upon the size of jail that is needed.
“I think that it would be in our best interest to complete a new report that would better reflect our needs at the present time,” he said. “I believe a 108-bed facility would better suit our needs rather than the proposed 130-bed facility. The state Commission of Correction just last week stated that the size of this jail would be mutually agreed upon. I do not think the 130 beds have been mutually agreed upon.”
Rose agreed with Chilelli that the county should perform a new study to see if the 130 beds are warranted.
She also said that she could not support the resolution until estimates are provided as to how much it will cost to operate the new jail.
Legislature Chairman Raymond Smith, District 10, clarified that the 130 beds are considered to be mutually agreed upon, as the size of the proposed facility was negotiated down from 185 beds. “Through discussion with the commission we were able to lower the number of beds from 185 to 130,” said Smith. “I previously wrote to the commission asking that 108 beds be considered, but that received a negative reply.”
Public Safety Committee Chairman Leonard Hendrix, District 6, joined Smith in reminding the legislators that the current jail has been closed and is operating a 60-day variance, a variance that says the legislature must continue to make progress on constructing a new jail.
“People need to understand that,” said Smith. “Our current jail is considered to be closed by the commission and is only in use by way of a variance. We have to continue to make progress on buying a site and constructing a new jail, or the commission may not renew the variance.”
Herkimer County Attorney Robert Malone said that the county has used Hatzinger’s services in the past with favorable results.
“The work that is required is very technical and specialized, in that the person must be qualified to testify in court should the need arise,” said Malone. “Mr. Hatzinger has the needed qualifications and has performed well in the past instances that we have contracted with him.”
The cost appraise the property adjacent to the Schuyler Business Park could be between $2,000 and $2,500.
The appraisal will occur as soon as possible, said Smith.
In other business Wednesday:
•A contract was authorized with Ward Halverson, LCSW-RM, Ed., to provide psychotherapy services to inmates at the Herkimer County Correctional Facility for a period of six months commencing June 21, 2008, to December 20, 2008, at a cost of $800 per week.
•The county’s contract to provide data collection services for the town of Schuyler was extended for one year, from June 18, 2008, to June 18, 2009. The contract states that the county Real Property Tax Service Agency will collect data on the number of parcels designated by the town at the sum of $10 per parcel for agricultural, residential, vacant and public service parcels; and at a cost of $32 per parcel for commercial, recreation, community service, industrial and forest and public park parcels.