Downtown Economy

• The courthouse is a major downtown employer.

• Hundreds of people go to the courthouse daily supporting many downtown businesses.

• Two-thirds of the courthouse employees would vacate downtown in Alternative 2.

Security

• The jail is out-dated and the state has indicated that the county's jail is inadequate and not up to standards.

• Downtown Alternative 1 greatly improves the jail’s security in a cost-effective way.

Efficiencies

• The sheriff and Eau Claire police physically stay together, working together, and a new home for the Eau Claire police station would not need to be paid for.

• The courthouse stays close to the many necessary providers and services.

• Alternative 1 utilizes existing space.

Other Alternative 2 drawbacks

• Alternative 2 is risky: There is no detailed plan as to what exactly Alternative 2 would be or look like.  Hence, the costs could be even higher than estimated. Nor has the land been acquired yet.

• We would lose prime rural land from the sprawl that would follow a remote courthouse.

• Imagine vacating over half of the existing courthouse with no plan or money for re-using it.

•  The city would have to locate or build a new downtown police department, at an estimated cost of $12 million.

 

Which of the following alternative Eau Claire County building plans do you prefer (vote for one)?

Alternative 1: Build a new jail next to the current courthouse and remodel the courthouse.

Alternative 2: Build a new county justice center for the jail, courts and sheriff's department at River Prairie or Highway 93 and 94.

Stop the Insanity! 

The proposed jail will be an attractive building sited over 300 feet from the river. There will be greenspace between the river and First Avenue.