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Statement re KCJDF by Commissioner Bill Williams, Pct. 2
It was only a matter of time before the "boulder of blame" would land squarely on
Commissioners' Court.
Two Letters to the Editor published in today's issue of the Kerrville Daily Times
clearly illustrate the extent to which there is public mis-understanding of the issues that
affect the existence and continuation of the Juvenile Detention Facility.
The record shows the JDC was built in 1994 by a private corporation-RECOR.
Ken County was involved only as a user of the facility and its services. Subsequently,
RECOR defaulted on its financial obligations. Shortly therreafter, a public use facility
KDJDFC was formed and purchased the facility. The facility Corp. leased the facility to
the Kerr County Juvenile Board.
In 2002, a new public facility corporation was set up to buy the facility, and
borrow additional funds for a planned expansion, achieving in the process, lower interest
on the combined debt. It was at this juncture that Kerr County became involved solely
for the purpose of leasing the facility from the Juvenile Facilities Board and contracted
with the Juvenile Board to operate the facility.
Since then, 827,000 in reserves have been spent, Advocacy Inc., has been in and
out of the facility investigating allegations of abuse; the TJPC has conducted its
investigation, theraputic programs have been lost or discontinued, daily census has been
depleted, daily income has eroded, and only in September did Commissioners Court
become aware or required to be involved.
If there is blame to be assessed, it clearly does not fall on Conunissioners Court.