The ongoing debate over where the new Eau Claire County Justice Center should be built continues. The select committee has narrowed it down to three possible sites, but some representatives of the City of Eau Claire aren't happy with one of those and they're speaking out about it.

Only three finalists are left in the run for the new site of the Eau Claire County Justice Center.

Members of the Select Committee to recommend locations say they're leaning toward the River Prairie site in Altoona.

“It’s developed. It’s ready. It's going to be easy to get around. It's very convenient to the rest of the city and county," committee chair Ken Fulgione said.

But Eau Claire City Council Member Dave Duax says he has concerns about that site.

Tuesday night he brought this resolution to the council. In it he calls the River Prairie site challenging, costly and controversial.

“Our concern about that is largely that to detach it from Altoona and annex it to Eau Claire by state law would require a 3/4 vote or 9 members,” Duax said.

And he says he doesn't see that happening.

“That's the same high level of approval that's required for a change in zoning which is the problem that faced us last June for zoning downtown," Duax said.

He says having the jail in Altoona will bring revenue there and out of Eau Claire. With that comes frustration on the part of Select Committee Chair Ken Fulgione.

“When they talk about revenue for Eau Claire, the city has land on 1st Ave. with tremendous value for a multi-million dollar project to be developed there," Fulgione said.

He says the new site shouldn't only be a win for Eau Claire, but also Altoona and the county as a whole.

"It's a legitimate project they have in Altoona and just because it's good for Altoona doesn't mean it's not good for the whole county," Fulgione said.

Duax says he doesn't think voicing concerns for the River Prairie site will set the project back. He says Eau Claire and Altoona would have to do some negotiating to make that site stay an option.

The Select Committee has to present their recommendation to the full county board on January 19th.