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Sheriff warns of detention-center failures and presents $37M estimate for new jail
Summary
Sheriff described chronic maintenance and safety problems at the county detention center — failing smoke‑evacuation system, aging plumbing and capacity issues — and recommended a new detention center. Staff estimated a $37 million placeholder in the CIP and urged commissioners to consider timing and funding options.
The sheriff told the board that the county’s detention center is at or beyond the limits of routine maintenance and that several statutory/safety requirements now demand major capital work or replacement.
Sheriff Smitherman described recent findings: an uninstalled smoke-evacuation system required by inspection, 24 failing 1950s‑era toilets, window and door sealing problems, and recurring staff safety incidents tied to facility design. "So far, we've spent $1,400,000 just keeping the jail running," he said, and added that addressing the smoke‑evacuation requirement could trigger extensive additional work to make the 2000‑era heating, ventilation and enclosure systems compatible with current standards and testing.
Staff and the county’s CIP lead presented a conceptual design and updated cost estimate for a replacement detention center; the draft CIP shows a $37 million placeholder for a new facility and additional near‑term renovations (pretrial facilities) that would remain on the campus if a new building is built. The sheriff said off‑site housing of inmates and county liability and inspection pressure make a timely decision urgent.
What happens next: commissioners will weigh CIP priorities and funding sources, talk with county counsel and architectural staff about updated designs and code changes, and consider whether to advance funding for design, phased construction or pursue state grant opportunities. Staff emphasized that design approvals lapse and that costs will change if construction is delayed: building the project in the next several years would take multiple budget cycles and likely require dedicated CIP funding in the capital plan.
