A needs assessment study for construction of a new jail in Miami County has been put on hold until county officials can determine how much can be spent on a new facility.
The Miami County commissioners earlier this year hired the Illinois firm of Kimme & Associates to do a study on how many beds are needed, develop a design and potential cost for a new jail.
“We’ve put the study on hold,” David Bostwick, corporate director with Kimme & Associates, said Wednesday. “The county is looking to see how much they can finance and are looking to hire a financial consultant.”
The Miami County jail has a capacity of 50 and the average daily population is 75 and peaks at 90 inmates, according to Bostwick.
“The jail has been at over capacity for more than 10 years,” he said. “It is extremely overcrowded and is a dangerous situation.”
The jail opened in 1983 to house 46 inmates, according to Sheriff Ken Roland.
“We’re crowded,” Roland said.
The firm has recommended that Miami County construct a jail with 285 beds, which would meet the long-term needs of the county until 2030, Bostwick said.
“If the county decides it has the funds to construct a jail with 200 beds, it will have to be designed for easy expansion in the future,” Bostwick said.
Roland said the needs assessment study will provide what is needed for the next 10, 15 or 20 years.
“We can build what is needed in the immediate future and then add pods,” he said. “We can build a bigger facility and then lease cells to the Department of Correction.”
The DOC pays $35 per day for the housing of state inmates, Roland said.
Miami County officials are looking at a location for a new facility in downtown Peru, at the former Grissom Air Force Base and the North Miami County Industrial Park, he said.
“The industrial park is already owned by the county, so site acquisition would not be an issue,” Bostwick said.
Commissioner Gary Hawley said no decision on a site has been made.
“We are looking at downtown and two other sites,” he said. “We are waiting for the needs assessment to be completed to give us an idea of what the size should be.”
Roland said the site is to be determined by the commissioners.
“The site doesn’t really matter for the department,” he said. “The sheriff has to operate the jail.”
Teleconferencing between the jail and the courthouse will eliminate the need to transport inmates, Roland said.
No cost estimate for the construction of a new jail has been completed by Kimme & Associates.
“The amount the county can raise impacts how the jail is designed,” Bostwick said. “Another concern for county officials is the staffing requirements and operating costs of a new facility.”
Earlier this year the Miami County Council approved a 0.25 percent County Option Income Tax to raise money for the construction of a new jail.
Roland said he hopes the financial assessment is completed before the end of the year.
“The project is moving forward,” he said. “Progress is being made, we don’t want to rush into anything. We are still talking with people in an effort to gain knowledge and visiting other jails.”
The design of a new jail will also have to take into consideration how many beds should be set aside for female prisoners, Bostwick said.
“Most smaller counties don’t have enough space to segregate the female and male prisoners,” Bostwick said. “It would be possible for Miami County to house prisoners from other counties to generate some revenue.”
Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454 -8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
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