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First step taken in building of new jail
Posted: Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 - 08:39:17 am CDT
by Carol Kothmann - Managing editor
 | | Proposed jail and fairgrounds facility |
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Uvalde County Commissioners voted unanimously Monday at their 10 a.m. meeting in the Uvalde County Courthouse to allow County Judge Bill Mitchell to present a proposal to Uvalde City Council that would result in a property swap making the construction of a 144-bed jail possible.
“We've been knocking around the possibility of a county jail for sometime,” Mitchell said, noting that LaSalle Management Co. previously had an agreement with the county to explore the possibilities of that company constructing and operating a jail. That contract is now void and the county has received a release from the company.
The new idea involves the use of the Uvalde Fairgrounds property, 54 acres currently owned by the city.
“I'm asking you today to ask that they give the fairgrounds to the county,” Mitchell said. “All I'm asking the court to do today is give me permission to go to the city.”
In return, the county would deed the current downtown jail site to the city and construct a new jail and other facilities, including a covered rodeo arena, livestock show barns, multi-purpose building, amphitheater and an office to house a justice of the peace and Uvalde County Extension agents. Estimated cost for the project is $14 million.
Near Highway 90 on the front of the property there would be an office building that would house a justice of the peace and the Extension agents. This would free up the current Extension office, on the third floor of the courthouse, for other county offices.
“The proposed jail site would be at the back of the property,” Mitchell said, stressing that there would be no overlap between the two facilities.
“There'd be no commingling,” he said.
The jail would be a 144-bed facility owned and operated by the county. The current jail has 48 beds, less than what is currently needed. “Our needs are somewhere in the range of 75 to 80,” Mitchell said. The 144 number was reached because state jail standards require one guard for every 48 prisoners. With current needs what they are, a 96-bed facility would take care of them but leave very little room for future growth.
Uvalde County Sheriff Terry Crawford said Hondo built a 96-bed facility and outgrew it very quickly, so the 144-bed target is probably a good one.
“We currently have between 40 and 50 prisoners out of county,” Crawford said of prisoners sent to other jails when the county jail's capacity is exceeded.
“I believe that this project is one that needs to be looked at very closely. I think it's going to be a great project to try to get done,” Crawford said.
Uvalde County Commissioner Jesse Moreno said commissioners need to hear from citizens who may have thoughts on the project.
“I think we need to take into serious consideration some of the concerns,” he said. “We need to assure the public of safety.”
Moreno also inquired as to separation of the jail from the fairgrounds and other adjacent property. “There will be a new fence?”
“Yes sir,” Mitchell responded. “It'd be a much more secure area,” he said, referring to the current site in the midst of the city's business district.
“It's the same type of issues in either place,” Crawford said, noting the type of prisoners would not change from what is currently housed at the jail.
An audience member asked if safety would be more of an issue because of the increase from a 48-bed jail to a 144-bed facility. “You're right, it's a numbers thing, but hopefully this will be a more secure facility,” Mitchell said.
And safety is an issue right now with jail overcrowding, especially when it comes to decision making in the courts.
“In order to put somebody in jail we have to let someone out,” Mitchell said.
“If there's no jail time they get off scot-free, and that's a serious problem,” Moreno said.
As is the cost of housing prisoners out of county, which, at $43 per prisoner per day, totals about $750,000 per year. That doesn't include the cost of transportation, sheriff's department staff for moving prisoners and medical costs. Moreno said this is “just like throwing money down the drain.”
The $14-million price tag is something Moreno takes seriously. “It's a lot of money. But something does need to be done. I think this is a good thing. We need to move on with this.”
Uvalde Mayor Cody Smith, City Manager John Harrell, Economic Development Director Tom Austin and Councilman John Yeackle were on hand to lend their support for the first step in the project, which Smith sees as a good thing for everyone.
“We need to help the county do this. Most of the prisoners are, probably, from the city of Uvalde,” he said. “We think it'd be win-win for everybody.” Commissioner Danny Sanchez made the motion for Mitchell to present the proposal to the city, and Moreno seconded.
Mitchell is to make a presentation at the next meeting of the city council.
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