Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Legislature Public Safety Committee May 2, approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of a $51.4 million bond to fund the construction of a new jail facility in Coxsackie. The measure passed on a vote of 5 to 3. The decision came after the committee heard a report from engineering firm Kaaterskill Associates on the deteriorating condition of the existing county jail on Bridge Street in Catskill. That building was closed April 20, and will remain shuttered indefinitely due to issues with its structural integrity. Kaaterskill structural engineer Bill Scribner said the estimated cost of needed repairs to the building was $300,000 to $400,000, and would take five to six months to complete. After apologizing to county corrections officers for not making the existing jail safer, Legislator Aidan O’Connor Jr., of Durham, raised questions about rushing to pass the resolution and incurring rising debt. O'Connor's fellow Democrat, Legislator Lee Palmateer, of Athens, responded, criticizing O’Connor and other legislators for failing to show a greater sense of urgency in coming to a decision about the jail earlier. “I am willing and ready to do what I need to do to build a jail in Greene County,” Palmateer said. “This jail has been falling down because of you and the rest of the members of this board.” The resolution now goes to the Finance Committee before it is voted on by the full Legislature May 16. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.