Price tag for Law Enforcement Center comes into focus

By Sara QuamRock County Commissioners have more details on the planned new Law Enforcement Center.Paulsen Architects, Mankato, submitted a proposed schedule and fees for the new Law Enforcement Center that will be on Blue Mound Avenue between Human Services and the County Highway Department.That firm is handling the project from start to finish.The document phase of the project is complete and cost $41,870.The bidding will cost another $6,852 and will start in January.Construction is scheduled to start in March of 2006 and be completed in November 2006.For each month of construction, the firm will be paid $3,045.55 to supervise. Paulsen Architects broke down the monthly cost for construction, based on a budget of $1,774,520:March — $88,726April — $133,089May — $354,904June — $354,904July — $266,178August — $177,452September — $177,452October — $133,089November — $88,726The county has invested a portion of the bond that will pay for the new LEC. The investments will earn the county $43,851 in a year.In other business Tuesday, the board:
Approved the new commitment agreement to be a part of the regional Lewis and Clark Rural Water System. It is a 40-year agreement in the state of Minnesota. Rock County Rural Water will pay about 85¢ per gallon for the water, which is scheduled to reach Rock County in 2012.
Approved of hiring more part-time deputies in the Sheriff’s Department.The deputies would be licensed as full-time officers so they won’t require supervision during their shifts. Sheriff Mike Winkels said, "Some people have been interested and have actually approached the department."He said the hiring process will be the same as any other deputy, and they will have to pass the same tests. It costs about $2,500 to hire and equip a new deputy, but Winkels said the added labor will actually save the department in overtime expenses.Some full-time deputies regularly are working up to 20 hours overtime per pay period and that should be reduced by intermittent, part-time help.
Approved of an Adult Mental Health Service Plan. The plan requires annual board action in order for Family Services to receive about $62,000 in federal and state funding. Most of the adult mental health cases are handled by the Southwest Mental Health Center in