« CA: State Agrees to End Segregation of Prisoners by Race | Main | PA: 68 county jails in PA Struggle to meet minimum "standards" »
December 21, 2005
MI: County to Replace Jail for 98 with one with 244
The Saginaw News
County asks city to rezone land for new jail
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
MIDLAND -- The county is seeking city rezoning of 30 acres on Fast Ice Drive for a new jail.
Developers Nicholas and Elaine Rapanos will donate the land, but the county must provide $800,000 to assist the Rapanoses in building a road at the site.
County officials say the existing downtown jail, remodeled in 1957, is functionally obsolete.
They also say the Courthouse, constructed in 1926, will undergo renovations once the new jail opens.
"This property gives us space needed to serve Midland County's jail needs for years," said Board of Commissioners Chairman Roland Weaver.
Commissioners followed recommendations of the Jail Site Selection Advisory Committee and selected the Fast Ice site Nov. 1. Negotiations then began with the Rapanos family.
"The plan completes development of Fast Ice Drive and should result in commercial development that can spur job growth in the corridor," Weaver said.
Commissioner James Stamas, a member of the jail search committee, said the new facility will allow the county to expand its rehabilitation services and perhaps reduce the percentage of returning inmates.
"Today's jail is badly overcrowded, and we've had record numbers in the 98-bed jail. This year we were forced to spend $300,000 to board out inmates," he said.
Plans call for the new jail to have 244 beds, with provisions for two more expansions.
The Rapanoses have joined the county in seeking the rezoning, which likely will take up to four months. The city provides for correctional and jail facilities in its community zone. v
http://www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1133968806291960.xm
l&coll=9
Posted by lois at December 21, 2005 09:33 PM