Supervisors Hear Proposal To Build Scaled Down Jail

By David Howell
Editor

COFFEEVILLE – The recurring jail topic surfaced during a recessed meeting held at the Coffeeville Courthouse last Tuesday, May 18.

G.G. Ferguson, company president of Ferguson and Associates Architects attended the meeting, offering a scaled down option from the original project.

“They had contacted me about coming to talk with the board again about the jail,” Sheriff Lance Humphreys told supervisors. “They want to talk to y’all about different options,” Humphreys added.

The discussion follows a 4-1 vote last September to move forward with the construction of a  new county jail, which would replace the 1964 model 24-person jail. The new facility will cost an estimated $2.5 million.

Ferguson said if the county opted not to build cells to house 20 to 25 state inmates, which was including in the original concept, the county could save up to $500,000 off of the original estimate.

The potential to house state inmates has been a dominate factor in the jail construction discussion. The county could receive $20 per day per inmate from the state to house the inmates, income that would be budgeted for the debt service reduction for the new facility. Additionally the inmates could provide labor on city and county property.

The problem is the state funding crisis, there is no guarantee that the state will house the inmates in the county facility.

In addition to the beds for state inmates, the  new jail would be designed to  house 56 county and pre-trial inmates.

“We haven’t backed up on our commitment to build this jail. But I think at this particular time, we need to look a little bit closer at what is coming down from the state,” Vaughn told Ferguson.

No action was taken on the matter.

    Other business discussed, both at the May 18 recessed meeting and a second recessed meeting held May 25 includes:

    • Accepted two requests to grant industrial tax exemptions, one from BorgWarner and the second from Windsor Foods. The exemptions postpone taxes assessed for property and equipment valued at $613,951 at BorgWarner and $4,591,254 at Windsor Foods.

    Tax Assessor/Collector Linda Shuffield told supervisors the requested exemptions stem from expansions at both facilities.

    “They are adding a third line and 13 new jobs at Windsor Foods,” Shuffield reported.

    • Hired Virginia Rogers to work as a janitor in the Water Valley Courthouse. She will work part-time.

    • Accepted an application from James Sharp to exceed the posted weight limit while hauling logs on County Road 220 in District 1 on May 18. A second application was approved for Jeremy Aron on County Roads 216 and 211 in District 4 on May 25.

    • Approved a request from Humphreys to apply for a DUI grant.

    • Entered executive session, both during the May 18 and May 25 meeting to discuss acquisition of right-of-way for a bridge project spanning Turkey Creek on County Road 131 and a second project on County Road 212.

    Board Attorney John Crow also reported that a potential real estate deal with Avery Outdoors would be discussed in the May 18 executive session.