Jail facility to be studied
Staff reporter
A meeting is being planned by Marion County officials with a jail consultant to discuss the feasibility of a new county jail facility.
Sheriff Lee Becker and Dan Hall of BG Consultants presented information Monday to Marion County Commission regarding a new facility.
County commissioner Randy Dallke said he would like a study conducted to determine the need, type of facility, number of beds, and cost estimate.
Becker said there was a need because there were six prisoners having to sleep on the floor at the jail. He said there were four people in a holding cell designed for three.
Not only was space cited as an issue, Becker and Hall also cited non-compliance issues regarding the jail being outdated. The facility is not handicapped accessible, does not meet current fire codes, and is unsafe for employees.
Even though the prisoner population was fewer in 2004 than 2003, Becker said 2005 is starting as a "banner year."
Becker asked the commission if a new facility was feasible and approved, would construction be done at the same location as current jail or a different location?
Both Dallke and commission vice chairman Dan Holub agreed using the existing site was not feasible. Commission chairman Bob Hein did not attend Monday's meeting.
Hall explained he was an architect and he worked with a company from Colorado that conducts analysis of detention facilities.
A seminar is available for representatives from counties planning to build a new institution. Up to four county representatives could attend the seminar in Colorado for free, Hall said.
"Jail facilities are one of the most expensive buildings for a county to construct," Hall said. "It's important to gain knowledge and information."
Analysis will look at prisoner population for the past five years and will make projections for the next 20 years.
Hall said he assisted with a 125-bed facility at Riley County. Riley County determined it only wanted to incarcerate county prisoners and is now looking at expansion.
"The facility needs to be located where there's room for expansion," Hall said.
Holub asked if there was a demand to take out-of-county prisoners to help offset costs. Hall said the consulting company could assist with making that determination.
Hall also recommended the commission look at all modern technology that's available.
It was determined that law enforcement would move with the jail.
Chase County currently has approximately 100 beds which are filled with Johnson County inmates.
Dallke noted he received a telephone call from a constituent following last week's commission meeting. The resident suggested a construction and demolition landfill could pay for a jail.
Hall said the facility could be financed through bonds. He said revenue from the jail, if out-of-county prisoners are housed, might cover the bond debt.
"We're going to have to build or haul," said Holub. "We need to look at the costs."
Becker said he did not want to lose the option of housing county prisoners. He does not want a new facility to be a burden for taxpayers but believes it could be an economic boost for the county.
A meeting will be planned by Hall with a consultant and the commission. A fee will be determined by the consultant to come to Marion County and provide an analysis.
Becker also was instructed to reserve four seats for the information seminar in October.
