By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Two hot items dominate the agenda for the Fayette County Commission's monthly work session this afternoon: funding for a new jail and judicial complex, and recommendations from the impact fee committee.

Commissioners will continue their discussion of whether to raise about $60 million for the jail project through a sales tax or a long term bond, and whether to include appointment of a building authority as one option in the fund-raising discussion.

A building authority, whose sole purpose would be raising money for county building projects, would be able to issue bonds without first seeking public support through a bond referendum, something the commissioners cannot do under state law.

Although discussion will center on how to fund the jail project, residents of the area around downtown Fayetteville probably will attend to continue their push to get commissioners to consider an entirely different location.

The Woodlands Homeowners Association has circulated a petition signed by dozens of residents expressing their opposition to building a 384-bed addition to the current jail, which is on Johnson Avenue between Lee Street and Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard.

Residents have suggested alternative solutions to overcrowding at the jail that range from building a much less elaborate minimum security facility in the middle of the county's 65-acre property to building the new jail as far away from downtown as possible, in a sparsely populated area of the county.

But the commission already has formally committed itself to the basic concept of building the jail addition on the downtown site, plus a new three-story court facility joined to the jail by a network of tunnels. Long term, the plan includes a future county administrative complex on the same site.

Residents say the size and prominence of the jail, visible from Jimmie Mayfield, will hurt property values in the area and detract from the city of Fayetteville's efforts to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown shopping and residential district.

Commissioners say it doesn't make sense to separate the jail and judicial complex, because transporting prisoners to court from far away will provide an opportunity for escape attempts. And a large, elaborate county government complex will attract people to downtown, not detract from it, they say.

Commissioners also will discuss a report from a blue ribbon committee that has been studying the pros and cons of establishing impact fees — fees charged to developers to help defray the cost of new government services that their developments require.

The committee will recommend charging rom $1,200 to $1,500 per new home and using the money for public safety, recreation and library projects. Under state law, impact fees must be used for specific projects, and developers can be charged only for the cost of those projects that is caused by the new residents, not for the cost associated with existing residents.

And if the money is not used within a specified time period, it must be returned, with interest, to the developers.

Commissioners meet today at 3:30 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.

Also on the agenda will be a discussion of contracting professional services for the jail/judicial complex with Mallett and Associates, a discussion of consulting services for risk management, and a request from the Brooks Area Recreation Department for help with grading at a multi-purpose recreational complex in the town.