Despite pleas, protests and petitions from residents, Schoharie County supervisors agreed to buy a 28-acre site on Route 30 for the new jail.
In a close vote Friday morning, supervisors agreed to purchase the Seebold farm for $375,000. FEMA and state officials have agreed to give the county up to $37 million to build the jail out of the floodplain.
Several residents claimed they did not know of the plan to relocate the jail to the Seebold site until it was publicized earlier this month. They asked for a public hearing, but that plea failed. (See related story.)
After much discussion, nine supervisors approved the purchase of the Seebold property and five voted against. Two were absent.
The decision to build the new jail at the Seebold site was made last June, and was widely publicized, noted county flood recovery coordinator Bill Cherry and Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone.
"This has been an open and transparent process," Mr. Cherry added.
In an independent analysis, the Route 30 location scored the highest, edging out a site at the intersection of Zicha Road and Route 7, which was selected by supervisors last June as a secondary site.
The main drawback for that site is the availability of water. The water from the Central Bridge water plant is "not suitable" for the jail, Mr. Cherry stressed.
The new jail, according to Mr. Cherry, will have a smaller footprint than the current one that was opened in 1992. It will be landscaped with trees and shrubs.
"It will be disguised."
There will be subdued lighting at the site, though the lights in the parking lot must be on all night, he added.
"What we will design...will improve the gateway" into the Valley, Mr. Cherry said.
"Our team is confident that the Seebold location is the best possible site."
It is for sale and is available, he added.
The $375,000 purchase price was already jointly agreed upon, according to Mr. Cherry.
Though he said the site was the best one available, Mr. Milone made a motion to look at other sites for the jail, basically to see if something else presented itself in the 11 months since the site was selected.
That motion was defeated in a split vote, though it had the majority of votes of those who attended Friday's meeting.
A motion was made to vote upon the finance committee's recommendation to purchase the property for $375,000.
Mr. Skowfoe made a motion to table, with the apparent intent of scheduling a public hearing on the purchase.
That motion was defeated.
Jefferson Supervisor Sean Jordan noted that more residents may be at a public hearing.
"At least have that," he added.
Mr. Cherry stressed that he never said public hearings would not be held.
He and Blenheim Supervisor Shawn Smith noted that hearings may be held as part of the approval process.
"We're just jumping the gun," countered Mr. Skowfoe, who had pushed for the jail to be located at the former MOSA site on Route 7. Supervisors agreed to build a new communications center at that site. (See separate story.)
The former MOSA site is not big enough for a new jail, according to Mr. Cherry.
Voting in favor of the purchase were: Shawn Smith of Blenheim, Larry Bradt of Carlisle, Bill Federice of Conesville, Mr. VanWormer, Tony VanGlad of Gilboa, Dick Lape of Richmondville, Mr. Milone, Carl Barbic of Seward, and Sandra Manko of Sharon.
Voting against the purchase were: Bill Smith of Broome, Mr. Skowfoe, Mr. Jordan, Jim Buzon of Middleburgh, and Amber Bleau of Wright.
Leo McAllister of Cobleskill and Harold Vroman of Summit were absent Friday.