Commissioners behind jail project (11/27/07)

Jay County's executive body has given its endorsement to a jail expansion - sooner or later.

Commissioners on Monday afternoon said they view the project as a necessity to help alleviate space limitations, overcrowding and disrepair at the Jay County Jail.

"We're supportive of it," Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said, adding that he would like to see construction begin "sometime next year."

"Sooner or later we're going to be forced (to expand the jail)."

Commissioner Faron Parr cited a lack of administrative offices and conference rooms and an increase in Jay County's inmate population as reasons why he believes an expansion is imperative.

Sheriff Ray Newton, along with Miller, approached Jay County Council members on Nov. 14 to inform them of the results of a jail expansion feasibility study that was published earlier this year, and to receive feedback about its findings.

In their presentation, they told the council that money could be generated by housing inmates from the Indiana Department of Correction at the facility. Newton said the county receives $35 a day per inmate to house state and out-of-county convicts. He also said the DOC has no plans to build new detention centers in the near future despite a growing state prisoner population.

The feasibility study, published by DLZ, an Indianapolis-based architecture and engineering firm, outlined plans for an additional 27,500-square-foot expansion to be located on a county-owned lot at the corner of Ship and West Main streets in Portland. The addition would be located just north of the current 13,150-square-foot jail on the site of a former car dealership.

Included in the extra space would be a "pod system" of cells designed to house 120 inmates, according to the feasibility study. The current jail, built in 1984, provides 50 beds. A work-release program for 32 nonviolent offenders would be available in a section of the existing jail.

Other features of the expansion plans are additional administrative work areas, space for conference rooms and an office for the Jay County Emergency Management Agency.

"Hard costs" of the expansion project were estimated at $6.4 million to $7.5 million, and construction would take about two years. Those figures don't include money needed for things such as environmental cleanup, attorney fees, investigative work, building permits and other fees and services.

A large building that formerly housed several auto dealerships occupies the lot where the expansion would take place. It would have to be demolished for the spot to be used. The latest tenant, Phyllis Williams, recently moved a business out of the building, ending her lease.

Parr said that with the building now empty, it could be a good time to move forward with an expansion. He said the county purchased the building and lot several years ago for use in a jail expansion/renovation project.

Final approval for funding construction would be up to Jay County Council, whose members said earlier this month they need more time to research the project and funding options.

Commissioners have only verbally endorsed the expansion, but Miller said the longer the county waits to make a decision, the more it might cost.

"Construction costs are going to go up every month," he said.

In the meantime, he said, commissioners will seek input from other design consultants about the project.[[In-content Ad]]