OPEN FOR INSPECTION

Residents can view the entire proposed Chatham County capital improvement plan on the county Web site at: http://www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=1299. Copies also can be viewed starting today at the county libraries in Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston.

From staff reports

PITTSBORO -- Construction of a new county judicial facility, a new jail and a county-owned landfill were part of a five-year capital improvement plan unveiled by the Chatham County Manager's Office Monday.

The Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed plan for 6 p.m. Monday in the District Courtroom in Pittsboro. Following the public hearing, the commissioners will discuss the proposed package at their budget retreat in January, with the goal of adopting a final plan in February.

The plan is used to determine funding for capital needs, such as facilities, equipment and other projects that cost at least $100,000.

"What we presented are recommendations on capital projects for the next five years, but the commissioners will make the final decision on what is included or not included," said County Manager Charlie Horne.

The major differences in the County Manager's proposal compared to the current plan include:

n Starting construction of the county judicial facility in early 2010. This facility would provide courtrooms and space for court-related personnel. The current facilities are over-crowded and unsafe. The new building will increase security for court-related activity.

n Constructing a county-owned landfill in 2015. A landfill has been recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, based on a 2009 waste disposal study. No decisions have been made on the size or location of the proposed landfill.

n Building a new jail in 2012. The current jail is over capacity about 62 percent of the time. The current facility is inefficient and ineffective. If overcrowding is not addressed, the state or a judge could order Chatham County to pay to transport and house inmates outside the county.

n Postponing the new high school. Without additional revenues, this postponement is being recommended by the county manager so that the judicial facility and the jail can be constructed earlier than previously planned.

"Given the additional capacity at the high school level and the fact that residential construction has slowed substantially, staff does not see the high school demand being as immediate as the need for a new jail and the judicial facility," said Renee Paschal, assistant county manager.

The proposed capital improvement plan outlines options available to the Board of Commissioners if it decides to proceed with building the new high school in 2012 or 2014, including postponing either the jail or the judicial center. The other options involve funding the facility from property taxes, increased impact fees or some combination of the two.

At their work session, the commissioners expressed concerns about the delay in constructing the new high school.

"There are over 10,000 new homes approved in Chatham County that are not yet built," said chair George Lucier, chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

He added that "it is clear that we cannot delay the new high school as recommended. We will look at every option to fund this school sooner than what is recommended by county staff."

Lucier said that the commissioners "look forward to hearing the views of citizens at the Dec. 14 public hearing."