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Resident urges county to rethink proposed large jail, criticizes conditions and staffing
Summary
During public comment a resident strongly opposed taxpayer funding for a proposed large jail, citing staffing shortages, poor conditions in the existing facility, and urging reduced capacity and alternative uses of funds.
A public commenter (S3) addressed the commissioners during the public comment period to oppose a proposed, large jail project that he said would add significant taxpayer cost.
S3 said he had heard the county plans to seek voter approval for additional funding to build a larger jail and described the project as a substantial expansion (in the record he referenced an "1,800 man facility"). He argued the county cannot staff such a facility, described delays in access to medical services, showers, phone use and recreation for people in the current jail, and urged commissioners to instead spend taxpayer dollars on other priorities. He also said the facility should be reduced "to down to 600" (transcript phrasing unclear) and identified himself as executive director of a group he named during remarks.
S3 thanked Commissioner Harmon for allowing him to speak and said he would return if there were votes related to the jail proposal. Commissioners did not debate the comments on the record during the public comment period; the board later recessed into executive session and returned to regular session.
