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Consultant and commissioners say Potter County jail is aged and inefficient; mechanical and security systems need replacement
Summary
After tours of Potter County and peer jails, court members and consultant Kenny Burns described the existing jail as worn out and inefficient; Burns highlighted mechanical, electrical and security systems as primary cost drivers and said modern design can reduce staffing inefficiencies.
Court members who participated in facility tours said they heard no positive feedback about the existing Potter County jail and described it as "end of life." Burns said the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, plus antiquated security electronics, are the major problems that would drive costs if the county attempts to renovate rather than rebuild.
"I didn't hear 1 positive thing about our jail," said a court member who toured the facilities. Burns added that older jails often force staffing inefficiencies that new designs can reduce, but that any option will need a detailed staffing analysis from the sheriff's office to estimate operating costs. He recommended the court consider modular, "plug‑and‑play" design elements if it pursues new construction so future capacity can be added without reworking kitchens and laundries.
