As the director of the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, I invite you to join us for the 19th Annual Dane County Alzheimer’s Walk at the Warner Park Shelter Saturday, Sept. 23. This annual event helps lift up everyone impacted by any form of dementia. The 45-minute walk begins at 9 am, leaving time to join Applefest at Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Dr. Nathan Chin, a new geriatrician at UW Health, will be speaking briefly. Every dollar raised stays local, helping you, your family and those you care about who struggle with this devastating disease. Visit alzwisc.org for details or call 232-3400.
The third option for remodeling the Dane County Jail is now undergoing review by the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, which I chair. This option brings all three jail locations together by adding four floors to the existing Public Safety Building. The 1954 Alcatraz-style jail at the top of the City County Building would close. The projected cost of $75.2 million is half the cost of the first two options. Option three would (a) eliminate the use of solitary confinement for those with mental health issues by adding state-of-the-art special needs beds, (b) house youthful offenders separately and (c) double program space to nearly 10,000 square feet to emphasize re-entry into the community. A final decision is likely this fall as part of the 2018 budget. Moving forward is important as the liability risk to taxpayers for our current substandard jail is substantial, plus current conditions exacerbate mental health conditions, which is unacceptable.
I am concerned about the impact on taxpayers. Today interest rates are low using 20-year bonds for financing. As with any big expense, it is important for the county to lessen other capital projects to make the jail project affordable while keeping our AAA bond rating.
Supervisor Rusk can be reached at 249-9667 or rusk@countyofdane.com.
