A proposal for a November referendum on construction of a 50-bed, $8.9 million juvenile jail in Joliet was forwarded Tuesday to the Will County Board, but with little enthusiasm from a board committee.
Each of the four panel members left room to vote against the proposal when it reaches the board floor Aug. 20.
After nearly a year of study, the Criminal Justice, Law and Judicial Committee settled on a size and a location for the facility that would replace temporary housing for juvenile offenders in a wing of the adult jail that opened in 1990.
The $6.9 million building would be constructed on 7 1/2 acres a block east of the adult jail. Cost of the site has been estimated at $2 million. A former foundry and 19 homes would be displaced.
Panel members made it clear that they had no strong hopes that the proposal would be on the ballot this year.
Margie Woods (D-Joliet) said she was merely voting ”to send the proposal to the (board) floor and they can vote it up or down.”
Karen Callanan (R-Plainfield) opposes a referendum. ”I don`t want it on the ballot,” she said. ”I don`t think we are prepared.”
The county has asked the state Supreme Court for a one-year extension of its deadline for constructing the facility. County Executive Charles Adelman had asked for a six-month extension but said Tuesday he believes still more time is needed.
In 1990, the County Board was granted permission to house juveniles in cells designed for adults provided a juvenile facility was built in the next three years. The deadline is June, and county officials believe construction would take at least two years if begun immediately.
County officials also were told Tuesday that the referendum proposal might encounter problems because of the tax cap enacted last year by the legislature.
According to State`s Atty. Edward A. Burmila Jr., it may be necessary to ask voters two questions to win approval.
He said one would seek approval to sell bonds to build the juvenile jail and the other would ask permission to exceed the tax cap to finance the bonds. Burmila described the double question as a ”potential hazard.” If one proposition passed and the other failed, county officials would not have the tools needed to carry out the project.
County Board Majority Leader John Annerino (R-Bolingbrook) said board members should not put the issue before the voters unless they are willing to campaign for it.
”You can`t just throw it on the ballot and walk away from it,” Annerino told the Executive Committee.
