Agenda - 02-06-2018 8-a - Minutes

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 N H-11 Next steps • Discuss options and answer questions • Receive feedback • Continue due diligence process • BOCC action for future meeting PUBLIC COMMENT: Billy Holloway said he is here with his family, and they live on neighboring land to one of the sites being considered. He said the map put up by Jeff Thompson inaccurately shows his property line. He said no one wants a detention center next to his or her home. He has livestock that will be disrupted. He said this is agricultural land, and has always been so. He said he does not want activity going on at all times of the day and night. Jennifer Hall said she lives at 1109 Highway 70 West. She said she and her family have lived on this land for three generations. She said the family is trying to keep their farm and traditions alive: cattle, horses, bee keeping, etc. She said it is a way of life the family is trying to preserve. She humbly asked the BOCC if it would pick another site for the detention center. She said this is the first she has heard of this proposal, and all are very concerned. Lisa Hall said this land has been her family farm for a very long time, and she is very upset, as this is not right. She said this is about her animals, her family, and their way of life. She asked the BOCC to please pick another location. Another resident said he lives on the adjoining land, and no one wants a detention center in his or her back yard. He said he has children, to whom he plans to pass his property on to. He said much of the community is not aware the property has been sold, much less that the County is considering putting a detention center on it. He asked the Commissioners if any of them would want a detention center 1000 feet from their homes. Billy Holloway spoke again, and said this land has always been used for agriculture. He said the family is trying its best to preserve what his grandfather passed along to them, and that is how it ought to be. Mike Holloway said he lives at 1012 Highway 70 West, and his grandfather purchased this land eight decades ago to support his family and to use it for farming. He said the family wants to see it stay that way. He said his house was broken into three years ago. He said since that time, he and his wife have installed an alarm and security system, purchased dogs, obtained concealed carry permits, and purchased weapons to protect themselves. He said the County is considering sentencing his family to a life of fear and anxiety by putting a detention center 200 feet from their home. He said they have taken precautions against another random break in, and the County wants to house known criminals next door. He said this is family land, and they cannot simply move to another neighborhood. Commissioner Price referred to the map mentioned by Billy Holloway that is reportedly inaccurate, and asked if staff has looked into this. Jeff Thompson said staff just got survey back today, and this is part of the due diligence that will go into the study. Commissioner Price said she thought landowners were offering this property. Jeff Thompson said one parcel is being offered by one landowner, and two parcels being offered by another landowner. He said it is his understanding that the landowners are family members of the Holloways. Commissioner Price asked if they live to the east or the west of the site. Jeff Thompson reviewed the map, and the family pointed out their parcels of land. He said in this particular schematic plan, the family's properties would be closer to the Park Operations and the Ag Center.