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Sheriff given approval to pursue feasibility study for jail expansion to house more state inmates
Summary
The sheriff told commissioners the county currently houses about 30 state inmates and could generate revenue by expanding bed capacity. The commission authorized feasibility and engineering planning to study expansion, with commissioners asking for cost estimates and comparisons to other counties.
The Emery County sheriff told the commission Aug. 4 that the county jail currently houses roughly 30 state inmates and that local corrections agreements with the Utah Department of Corrections provide revenue opportunities. The sheriff described plans to meet with sheriffs in other counties and evaluate how those jurisdictions handled expansion.
Commissioners asked for a careful feasibility effort that assesses the trade-offs between additional revenue and increased staffing, medical and maintenance costs. "We'd have to add more staff, we'd have to add more facilities," a commissioner said, noting the need to model 50-, 100- or 125-bed scenarios before deciding. The commission voted to authorize the sheriff to proceed with feasibility, engineering and planning work; no firm dollar amount was approved during the meeting.
The sheriff said local amenities and services at the county facility have helped attract state placements in the past, and commissioners suggested the Local Building Authority as a potential financing vehicle if the study supports expansion. The sheriff will return with more detailed proposals and cost estimates following consultations with other counties and stakeholders.
