No decisions made yet for old jail building in Alpena

ALPENA -- Coaxing the Alpena Board of Commissioners into repurposing the old jail in Alpena into an animal control shelter might be a tough task.

At Thursday's Facilities, Capital and Strategic Planning Committee, Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid laid out a plan for the old jail that would help accommodate more animals - especially those confiscated in hoarding cases - and provide other services such as low-cost veterinary, euthanasia, and creamation services.

To this point, no decisions have been made on the future of the old jail.

Currently the animal control service works out of a building at the Alpena County Fairgrounds, which Reid says is too small and not equipped to provide needed space to properly house animals often used as evidence in criminal cases.

Reid gave a presentation to the court committee a few weeks ago and, since then, the four commissioners on the committee say they have received correspondence from many residents who oppose the plan because of potential costs and because they were promised by Sheriff Steve Kieliszewski that the old jail would be torn down and that property would be sold.

Commissioner Brenda Fournier told Reid that she will vote no if the decision ever comes to a vote. Fournier said Kieliszewski made the promise to sell the land to get the new jail because the old jail was deemed unsafe.

She said she can't in good faith allow anyone to go back on that promise.

"He went around, to get that new jail built, and he got it. He told everyone the old jail would be torn down, and now he hasn't been back here to say another word," she said. "I am not going to go against what was told to the public. I'm telling you right now, my vote is going to be no."

Kieliszewski, who was not at the meeting, said that isn't the message he conveyed to voters when he was promoting the tax proposal and explaining the condition of the old jail.

"I never promised that," Kieliszewski said. "I told people it would be up to the board of commissioners to decide what to do with the property."

Committee Chairman Don Gilmet said the commissioners will choose what is best for the majority of county taxpayers and vowed to consider the project objectively. Despite that, Gilmet said claims made by Reid that the animal facility can be self-sustaining financially are likely overstated.

"We have heard the Northern Lights Arena will pay for itself. We heard the APlex would pay for itself, but they never do, and people know that," Gilmet said. "In my 20 years in government I have never seen those types of facilities pay for themselves."

Reid said another source of revenue could come from renting out the gym and kitchen to people who want to have private parties such as baby showers or graduation parties.

Gilmet said having the country offer a venue for parties, and low cost animal housing and care, would undercut private businesses.

Reid said if the commissioners choose not to move forward with the project, they would have to find other means to address the increase of animal surrender - when a pet owner turns over custody to an animal shelter - and hoarding issues

"I view this as an opportunity and a chance to be proactive," Reid said. "We are in this mess because the county has kicked the can down the road for so long."

Commissioner Marty Thomson said since the news broke about the proposed project, many people have reached out to him in opposition of it because they feel they were sold a need for the new jail because it was unsafe and in poor condition. He said nobody contacted him in support of it.

He requested a more detailed budget projection from Reid, but also stressed the commissioners have to consider all proposals and offers for the property.

"I have had a barrage of calls from people saying 'For the love of God, what are you commissioners thinking about and you're crazy for even considering it,'" Thomson said. "I would also like to say from this seat that I hope we will continue to look at what all of our other options are. But I also want to send a message to the community that this isn't a done deal."

Reid countered by saying there are numerous supporters of the project as evidenced by social media posts and comments.

Kieliszewski did say during the push for the new jail that the old facility was becoming unsafe and didn't comply with state guidelines in some areas. Reid said regulations on how animals are housed, compared to humans, is much different and the old jail could easily comply with regulations.

"I don't know how people can't understand that," she said.

Gilmet told Reid at the end of discussion she needed to continue to find solutions to the problems facing the animal control facility if the old jail is not the solution.

"We need to remember we are mandated by the state for what we need to do, as a county government, and everything else.... what is in this project is a whole lot of everything else," he said.