|
|
| Jail Expansion Approved |
| By The Leader Online |
| Published: 10/17/2005 |
|
New York Steuben County officials have received state approval of the county's initial plans for a new 96-cell wing at the county jail. County Administrator Mark Alger said schematic drawings of the new pod were reviewed by the state Commission on Corrections staff. Alger said the commission must now approve plans for pre-fabricated jail cells in order to begin the design development needed for construction bids. The state commission is expected to rule on the pre-fabricated cells by mid-October. If the cells are approved, that component of the new wing could be bid out quickly, with the remainder of the construction bid out early next year, Alger said. The county Legislature recently whittled the original cost estimate of $16 million down to $11 million by setting aside $5 million in new tobacco settlement funds for construction costs at the jail. Legislators approved adding the new wing last June in order to reduce overcrowded conditions at the jail. The jail has operated at capacity for almost two years, with the county paying $75 per day to house its excess inmates at other jails. So far this year, sending local inmates to other jails has cost Steuben nearly $600,000. But those costs could increase another $157,900 by the end of the year, Sheriff Richard Tweddell said. Tweddell said the increase is due to the cost of transporting inmates, food and mental health issues. Balanced against the increase is a jail revenue surplus of $87,000 received from the federal government and other sources, Tweddell said. The committee approved using $85,000 in surplus revenues, and instructed the sheriff to report back later this year if expenses continue to mount. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think