Regarding the location of the currently stalled jail project, at the time the decision was made to build it, it was the right location because it was across the street from FMHJ, just as the 2 current jails downtown are. Just a little bit of history, there has been a sheriff/police/jail facility in that area since the mid 1800s, so it's not as if there was this sudden decision to plop a jail in the middle of a booming area. This criminal justice area has been long established.

Regarding the Mound Rd facility, the part of facility the State proposed to sell to the County is pretty much scrapped & gutted. There would have to be a lot rebuilding in that facilty to make it habitable & workable as a jail. It would pretty much be like starting from scratch to make work. Plus, there is no building for a courthouse. That would have to be constructed. Also, the parking at that facility would have to be significantly expanded to accomodate all the traffic that would go with the jail & courthouse.

Regarding Gilbert's complaint, the County is taking their time evaluating all options. Gilbert offered $50 million for the stalled jail, the other 2 jails, FMHJ,the juvenile detention center, and I think the old DPD HQ. That's alot of prime real estate for only $50 million. I know Gilbert supporters will say that he will have to spend a whole bunch more in demolition & construction costs to get the area to his vision. However, the County is looking out for their interests too. From their perspective, $50 million isn't a whole lot of money for that land and will just put a dent in the payments on the bonds for the stalled jail. Gilbert is bristling because he can't get a bunch of prime land dirt cheap. The County has $300 million in bond money tied up in this project that they want to get more of a return on than $50 million.

Regarding why is the County thinking about continuing the jail, especially at this point, well you have deadlines that were set months ago that required a decision to be made about the status of the jail. These deadlines are up which is forcing the conversation to take place.

What's really going to happen? Despite all this discussion, I think nothing will happen the remainder of this calendar year. Indictments have been issued. Lawsuits have been filed. The outcomes of these legal activities will have an impact on what happens next. Ficano is out. The new County Exec, probably Warren Evans, along with any new commissioners will have the say in what happens. That won't happen until next year at the earliest. This thing is far from over.