Commercial jail project to be studied
Staff reporter
Information will be gathered with a feasibility study probable for a county-owned commercial jail.
At the July 26 commission meeting, Marion County Commission discussed the possibility of Marion County prisoners being "farmed out" to Chase County to reduce expenses in the sheriff's department.
At Monday's meeting, following discussion from the district judge and sheriff's department personnel, it was decided to explore the feasibility of a Marion County-owned commercial jail.
Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Michael F. Powers told the commission Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker had talked with him about the possibility of contracting with Chase County.
"Morris County does it and there are issues with it," Powers said. He added it could be done but options and costs need to be "thoroughly investigated."
"My advice is to put the brakes on it until you have had the chance to thoroughly check it out," Powers said.
Deputy Garry Klose said the approximate cost for six Marion County prisoners to be sent to Chase County would be $86,000 per year plus transportation based on $40 per day.
At the previous meeting, the commission had asked Becker to determine the daily expense of keeping a prisoner in the county jail.
Becker said Monday food costs $10 per day per prisoner. Medical expenses, jailers, and other personnel also would need to be factored and he was not sure how to factor in those costs but estimated costs at $15 to $20 per day per prisoner.
Becker said sending inmates out of county will not benefit the county.
Wilson County had a 60-bed facility and netted $1,200 per day. Chase County nets $40,000 per month, Becker said.
Klose said Rice County's 75-bed facility was three years old and understaffed.
"They cut some items at the time of construction and now they're going back and putting them in," Klose said.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said he was concerned about budget constraints regarding projected expenses for county communications to add two dispatchers to be certified as an EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatch) unit.
In addition to two dispatchers, four additional jailers would need to be hired to cover for the dispatchers who currently check prisoners during the evenings and weekends.
Projected costs were estimated at $250,000 for the six positions and EMD training.
"We're looking at a quarter of a million dollars expense," Wetta said.
"The simplest thing is to say 'we're not going to do this (EMD)'," Becker said.
Becker said other counties that have commercial jail facilities, house other inmates and "farm out" their own.
There would be no guarantee Marion County prisoners would be sent to Chase County.
"Chase County's main customer is Johnson County," Klose said. Space would be made available for Johnson County before Marion County.
A $2.5 million expansion was being planned by Chase County, Klose said.
Commissioner Howard Collett said he thought it was worth checking.
"It's worth a look," Collett said. "With the present economy, we may have more people in jail."
County clerk Carol Maggard said the project could be financed through bonds.
The average population of the county jail has been five per day, except for March when it was 10 per day.
"Last year we had more but it's subject to change any time," Becker said.
Becker said the Chase County jail cost between $4 and $5 million, Harvey County cost $5.4 million for 95 beds.
Klose added between the two facilities, "Harvey County definitely got their money's worth compared to the others."
"There are enough laws on the books to fill a 50-bed facility," Collett said, "but I don't know if that's the direction we want to take." He asked if commercial jails could become obsolete due to changes in sentencing guidelines.
Powers said sentencing guidelines were reducing prison sentences and increasing numbers in county jails.
Commissioner Bob Hein said the county needed to look into the commercial jail option.
Becker asked for direction in "getting the ball rolling."
Wetta said the county needed someone to give them advice. Assistant county attorney Ed Wheeler suggested Becker contact Harvey County and get information from them regarding an engineer.
Regarding the 2005 budget, Wetta suggested the sheriff's budget "carry on as it has in the past."
Collett agreed and suggested the budget be set up, delay the EMD program, and "look into the economic development opportunity of a commercial jail."
Becker was instructed to make contacts for presentations to the commission regarding a commercial jail project.
