Staff Reports
“Go Directly to Jail.”
Once it’s ready.
Marion County Commissioners took time to discuss the needs and options available on improving the county jail.
“We’re not going to ask voters, nor are we going to approve issuing $15 million dollars in bonds to build a new jail,” said Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur. “There are too many other things our residents need before we look at spending that kind of money.”
Conditions at the Marion County Jail, which was built in 1975 and renovated in 1996, have been under review by the Texas Commission for Jail Standards for several years, but are centered on the age of the facility and how regulations have changed over time.
The Jail currently operates with four variances issued by the Commission.
-Separation Cell is not provided. Originally issued in 1981.
-Two emergency fire exits are not available. When the jail was built the requirement for two fire exits did not exist. The county performs quarterly fire suppression and evacuation drills as well as testing of fire alarms to comply with the variance. Originally issued in 1981.
-Standpipe and hose system is not provided. Requirements when built did not require a separate standpipe and hose system for fire suppression. Originally issued in 1981.
-Allowing two additional beds within four, 6-bed multiple occupancy cells, creating too little floor space, tables and seating. Originally issued in 2017. The county is allowed to use rooms with extra beds for no more than 72-hour holds and when beds are unavailable due to classification or housing limitations.
Marion County Sheriff David Capps provided Commissioners with a copy of the latest Facility Needs Assessment by the Commission and said he was in the process of requesting the Commission provide the County with an updated version as the last one was done in 2019 and is only good for two years.
Capps said the analysis also indicates the County should have a jail with a maximum capacity of 48 inmates through 2038. The current capacity, with the variances, is 43 inmates. Capps said the current occupancy averages 35 inmates from month to month.
Commissioner Charlie Treadwell asked if Capps was looking at options like the pre-built modules which could be purchased and installed in the former tax assessor’s office. The number of required modules would cost the County approximately $3-4 million.
Capps said that was an option, but the County needs to remember that once renovation starts on the jail facility, it must be completed and brought completely into compliance, so it has to be well planned before beginning implementation.
Treadwell went on to say he has been talking with David Cleveland at ETCOG on the availability of grants or loans for jail construction. He said there is a USDA Community Facility Grant/Loan which the county could apply to receive.
“We have about $1.5 million in COVID funds, maybe we could put back $500,000 of that specifically for this project,” Treadwell said.
Current Jail Standards require facilities to be all on one floor, where the Marion County Jail is spread over three.
“We’ll need to account for 20 total beds in anything we look at, as we’ll lose the second and third floors,” said LaFleur.
Capps indicated that would save the County money however in renovations as there are a number of plumbing issues on the upper floors they would not have to modify.
Commissioners agreed that the next best step was to get a new Needs Assessment from the State and then start talking with them about options on renovations instead of building a new facility.
In other business during Monday’s regular meeting, Commissioners:
-approved the Airport Owners & Operators Liability Proposal at a 2023 premium of $2,485 plus $249 for terrorism coverage
-Increased the 2022 Road and Bridge Budget by $200,000 to cover the increase in fuel costs
-Approved the final plat for Lots 32, 33, and 34 of Bayou River Run, Phase II plat records
-Approved doing the necessary repairs to the former Mims VFD fire station.