Study approved for possible jail project
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission is wasting no time in moving forward with studying the feasibility of a new jail.
The commission approved up to $15,000 plus expenses Monday for Dan Hall of BG Consultants of Manhattan to take the next step for a study.
The study will be conducted by consultants in Colorado whose specialty is jail projects.
It will determine the size of jail and type of jail, cost estimates for construction, cost of operation, projected revenue, and other factors.
When the study is completed, the commission will have a better idea of whether to proceed with the project.
Discussion of a new jail comes none too soon. Garry Klose, corrections officer, said the jail had 16 inmates over the weekend and 14 remained Monday. The facility currently can accommodate 11 inmates, with beds on cell floors.
Sheriff Lee Becker said his department was at that "magic number."
"We need to look at a larger facility or farming out," Becker said.
Klose said he checked with the Chase County Jail this past week for information to "farm out" some inmates.
Four inmates are not due back in court until March 28 and could be sent to Chase County until that time.
To send them to Chase County would cost Marion County $40 per day per prisoner plus transportation.
"We couldn't do it anyway because it (Chase County Jail) was full," Klose said. He said he will check with the facility again.
Commissioner Randy Dallke pointed out if 16 prisoners are sent to other facilities at $40 per day, it would cost the county $19,200 per month.
"But if we bring in prisoners, the revenue would come back to us," Becker added.
Former sheriff Ed Davies said he was the project coordinator for the Johnson County Jail when it was built in the 1970s.
"It takes a lot of planning," Davies advised. "The longer this is put off, the more chance of problems and higher costs."
Dallke suggested Becker contact other counties to see if there is a need to house out-of-county prisoners.
A meeting will be scheduled in the next month with the consulting firm to discuss the study.
