Vote on Johnson justice center could come next year

Johnson County voters could head to the polls as early as next year to decide whether to pay for a new criminal justice center.

A committee studying the facility, which may include court and jail space, approved on Wednesday a timeline laying out what needs to be done in the next year to prepare for a vote.

“We've got our blueprint now,” said Sally Stutsman, chairwoman of the county's Board of Supervisors.

The county has been discussing the possibility of building a justice center for the past several years as a way to provide relief to the county's overcrowded jail and century-old courthouse.

The jail has 92 beds but last year had an average daily population of 145 inmates, with the overflow inmates housed out of county.

Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said the county is now sending more than 100 inmates a day elsewhere and is on pace to spend more than $1.7 million this year in out-of-county rent. It budgeted for $1.3 million.

The timeline sets several goals for the next year, including determining the size of the facility, its location and the cost.

The justice center most likely would be paid for with a bond issue, which would require voter approval.

Committee members said they'd look at election dates in 2011 and 2012, with several members indicating they favored an aggressive approach.

A 2000 bond issue for a new jail failed.

The supervisors are eyeing a spot downtown that would incorporate the courthouse. A consultant has said it would cost at least $61 million to build a justice center by the courthouse, but county officials have said they believe voters would never approve that amount and have ordered a new study determining how much space is needed for a justice center.